Probiotics For Dummies

Discover the pros of probiotics Probiotics are beneficial, live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to those found naturally in the human intestine. Also known as "friendly" or "good" bacteria, probiotics are the cornerstone of any successful health program because they restore a healthy balance between friendly and bad bacteria in the intestinal tract, a balance that is critical for the health of the entire body. Probiotics are associated with treating everything from IBS to certain forms of cancer, allergies, eczema, and even the effects of aging. Probiotics For Dummies reveals how taking the right probiotics—in the form of food and supplements— as part of a total health program benefits one's overall health, as well as improving specific conditions. This hands-on, essential guide features 20 probiotic recipes and gives you a step-by-step plan for infusing probiotics into your diet to improve the health of the GI tract, alleviate allergies and asthma, restore reproductive and urinary tracts, bolster the immune system against disease, enhance weight loss, and more. Advice on how to ingest the right probiotics 20 probiotic recipes from breakfast to dessert Information on naturally occurring probiotic compounds as well as the effectiveness of supplements Probiotics For Dummies gives you everything you need to make informed decisions about adding probiotics to your daily diet. Probiotics For Dummies 1 About the Author 7 Dedication 9 Acknowledgments 9 Contents at a Glance 11 Contents 13 Foreword 21 Introduction 23 About This Book 23 Conventions Used in This Book 24 What You’re Not to Read 24 Foolish Assumptions 25 How This Book Is Organized 25 Icons Used in This Book 26 Where to Go from Here 27 Part I: Living in the Microbial World 29 Chapter 1: Getting a Handle on the True Nature of Bacteria 31 Exploring the History of Bacteria Theories and Practices 32 Looking at Bacteria and the Brain 36 Controlling Mood and Anxiety 37 Chapter 2: Looking at Bacterial Behavior in Your Body 41 Exploring Your Digestive System 42 Understanding Good and Bad Bacteria 44 Considering the Digestive System’s Immune Functions 48 Discovering How Things Can Go Wrong 49 Chapter 3: Discovering Prebiotics and Probiotics 53 Defining the Terms: What Prebiotics and Probiotics Are 54 Looking at the Role of Prebiotics 54 Understanding the Functions of Probiotics 56 Seeing How Prebiotics and Probiotics Work Together 59 Exploring the Ideal Probiotic 61 What to Expect When You Start Taking Probiotics 65 Part II: Preserving and Improving Health with Probiotics 67 Chapter 4: Starting with the Obvious: Digestive Health 69 Considering the Use of Antibiotics 70 Doing the Potty Dance: Probiotics and Diarrhea 72 Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 78 Discovering the Mechanisms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome 80 Looking at Other Gastrointestinal Disorders 83 Chapter 5: Exploring Allergies and Probiotics 87 Understanding the Causes of Allergic Reactions 88 Looking at Asthma and Respiratory Allergies 90 Tackling Eczema 92 Chewing on Food Allergies 93 Chapter 6: Getting to the Bottom of Urinary Infections 97 Understanding Your Urinary System 97 Bringing Probiotics to the Fight 101 Chapter 7: Using Probiotics in Women’s Health 103 Probiotics and Pregnancy 103 Using Probiotics in Urogenital Infections 106 Chapter 8: Understanding Children’s Health and Probiotics 109 Looking at Infants’ Special Needs 110 Battling Acute Pediatric Diarrhea 111 Keeping Children Well 112 Chapter 9: Applying Probiotics to Other Health Issues 115 Exploring Cancer Prevention 115 Treating Heart Disease 119 Using Probiotics in Fighting Kidney and Liver Disease 120 Promoting Immune Function 122 Managing Weight 124 Chapter 10: Exploring the Promise of Probiotics 127 Exploring More Gastrointestinal Uses for Probiotics 128 Checking out Other Uses for Probiotics 130 Part III: Adding Probiotics to Your Lifestyle 135 Chapter 11: Filling Your Diet with Probiotics 137 Identifying Probiotic-Rich Foods 137 Finding Prebiotic-Rich Foods 141 Supplementing Your Diet 141 Understanding how probiotics are made 142 Using Probiotic Snacks and Drinks 145 Looking at Other Probiotic Products 146 Chapter 12: Cooking Up Delicious Probiotic-Rich Meals 147 Part IV: The Part of Tens 175 Chapter 13: Ten (Or So) Ways Probiotics Promote Good Health 177 Replenishing Good Bacteria in the Gut 178 Crowding Out Bad Bacteria 178 Enhancing Your Immune System 178 Preventing Allergies 179 Eliminating Yeast Infections 179 Producing Essential Vitamins 180 Strengthening Natural Defenses 180 Preventing Antibiotic-Related Diarrhea 180 Reducing Constipation, Bloating, and Diarrhea 181 Chapter 14: Ten Misconceptions about Probiotics 183 All Bacteria Are Bad for You 183 A Yogurt a Day Keeps the Doctor Away 184 The United States Leads the World in Probiotic Use and Education 184 The Number of Strains in Probiotic Supplements Doesn’t Matter 185 All Probiotic Supplements Are the Same 185 Prebiotics Are an Inessential Extra 186 You Can’t Take Probiotics with Antibiotics 186 Traveler’s Diarrhea Is an Unavoidable Part of Overseas Travel 186 Probiotics May Not Be Safe for Some People 187 Probiotics Don’t Help the Immune System 187 Chapter 15: Ten (Or So) Famous Bacteria 189 Bifidobacteria (Good) 189 Clostridium Difficile (Bad and Ugly) 192 Escherichia Coli (Bad) 192 Helicobacter Pylori (Bad) 193 Lactobacillus (Good) 193 L. Acidophilus (Good) 194 Salmonella (Bad) 194 Shigella (Bad) 195 Index 197 Also known as "friendly" or "good" bacteria, probiotics are fast becoming an important component of a successful health program. This guide gives you everything you need to make informed decisions about adding probiotics to your daily diet