The beneficial microflora found in the gastrointestinal tract were termed probiotics. Probiotics, literally meaning "for life," are microorganisms proven to exert health-promoting influences in humans and animals.

Probiotic microflora display numerous health benefits beyond providing basic nutritional value. They cooperatively maintain a delicate balance between the gastrointestinal tract and immune system. When this balance is disrupted, disease and inflammation result. The understanding of the function of probiotics in the maintenance of health and their importance in preventing disease serves to enhance the overall health of patients. With increasing understanding that beneficial microbes are required for health maintenance and disease prevention, probiotics may be commonly used as a therapeutic tool by health care practitioners.

Current evidence supports the concept that oral administration of probiotic therapies may be beneficial in a multitude of disorders both inside and outside the gastrointestinal tract. Exciting new evidence supports indirect, systemic effects of probiotics for a widely divergent set of disorders, including atopic disease, immune compromise, and vaginal infections.

Antibiotics are used to kill bad germs, but they also knockout the beneficial bacteria that contribute to vital nutrient absorption along with the disease-causing germs. Also, antibiotics do not kill the yeast organisms living in balance with the other 400 species of bacteria in the intestine, so yeast strains begin to overgrow. Worse still, antibiotics create resistant bacterial survivors in the digestive tract. These germ barbarians take over absorption space on the intestinal wall from the less aggressive, health promoting bacteria that help processed nutrients get into the blood. Perhaps now you can understand why long-term antibiotic usage weakens the body’s natural ability to be healthy.

Beneficial bacteria occur naturally in the digestive tract. Not only do they assist and promote nutrient absorption into the blood stream, they also produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide that compel bad germs to leave the body. In addition, these beneficial organisms create special message links with the immune system that help maintain defense factors in the body. When added back into the digestive tract after antibiotic use, these "pro-life" bacteria help control bad germs and keep immune factors in strong working order.

Today, scientists have isolated specific benefits from three types of probiotic bacteria:
• Lactobacillus acidophilus (DDS-1 and NAS super strains) bacteria break down proteins in the small intestine and help maximize food absorption. These super strains also help counteract bad germs because they secrete small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and other anti microbial substances. L. acidophilus bacteria communicate in a supportive way with the immune system.

• Bifidobacteria bifidum (Malyoth super strain) bacteria are the predominant, friendly residents of the large intestine. They help prevent invading harmful germs or resident yeast strains from interfering with the essential cleansing activity of the colon or large intestine. The more B. bifidum present, the less burden there is on the liver. These beneficial bacteria usher out poisons that otherwise would have to be neutralized by the liver. Japanese researchers feel B. bifidum organisms are more important than any other beneficial bacteria for human health.

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LB-51 super strain) bacteria are the original longevity promoting organisms discovered by Noble Laureate Dr. Ilia Metchnikoff of the Louis Pasteur Institute in Paris. As the chyme or digested food travels down the intestinal tract, L. bulgaricus bacteria break down protein, assist in maximizing the absorption of nutrients, and produce substances that help other beneficial bacteria stick to the intestinal wall. 

Powders: For the most optimal effect, mix 1/2 teaspoon of L. acidophilus (DDS-1 or NAS super strains) and 1/2 teaspoon of B. bifidum (Malyoth super strain) together in filtered, unchilled water 10 to 30 minutes before a meal. L. bulgaricus (LB-51 super strain) does especially well for intestinal health if taken by itself with food. If this is inconvenient, add L. bulgaricus (LB-51 super strain) in with the other two bacterial super strains. Do not mix beneficial bacteria together into one bottle to save space while storing.

Capsules: The three individual super strains of beneficial bacteria are also available as powders in separate hard capsules. Substitute these hard capsules during work or travel situations where mixing powders might not be easy. Take 10 to 30 minutes before meals.

Oil Matrix: This "three-in-one" form of delivering beneficial bacteria encapsulates three super strains of probiotics in an oil matrix hard capsule. The advantage of this form is that the super strains can be carried in one capsule and do not compete with one another as they find their proper place in the intestine. Take only one oil matrix capsule a day with food, usually lunch.

Wafers: This form of probiotic contains L. bulgaricus and is used by active people who want the ultimate convenience. Like other probiotic forms, keep probiotic wafers away from light and high heat.

General storage: To protect live, beneficial bacteria, it is wise to refrigerate your probiotics regardless of the form. However, supplemental probiotics guaranteed for 100% percent potency are stable at temperatures under 80° degrees. This means you can take them with you for several hours to several days as long as you keep them cool and dry.

Whether you opt for the loose, traditional probiotic powders mixed with unchilled, filtered water, the powders in hard capsules, L. bulgaricus thin wafers, or the 3-in-1 oil matrix hard capsule:

Do not settle for cheap, low quality probiotics that will disappoint you in their health benefits. Select only probiotic products which provide the supernatant or nourishment and protection for the beneficial strains of bacteria. If this supernatant is not in the probiotic product you buy, chances are the potency factor will be less than 25% percent.

Select only a probiotic brand that guarantees 100% percent potency through the expiration date to get your money’s worth.

Also, probiotic specialists stress the importance of strain selection to get the proper benefits and safety effects from probiotic supplementation. There are potential health hazards with consuming probiotics made from soil bacteria. You need human strains of beneficial bacterial. Make sure the probiotic cultures you buy state the super strains of the live, active bacteria on the label. The proper super strain of microbial activity and other genetic features are more likely to help beneficial bacteria stick to the intestinal wall. If you do not get such features in your probiotics, you are wasting your money.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can involve either or both the small and large bowel.

Inflammatory bowel disease (which is not the same thing as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS) refers to two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although the diseases have some features in common, there are some important differences.

The clinical manifestations are variable and can include diarrhea, fever, and pain, as well as extraintestinal manifestations of arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, also called the colon. In ulcerative colitis, the inner lining - or mucosa - of the intestine becomes inflamed (meaning the lining of the intestinal wall reddens and swells) and develops ulcers (an ulcer is a sore, which means it's an open, painful wound). Ulcerative colitis is often the most severe in the rectal area, which can cause frequent diarrhea. Mucus and blood often appear in the stool (feces or poop) if the lining of the colon is damaged.

Crohn's Disease differs from ulcerative colitis in the areas of the bowel it involves - it most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (called the terminal ileum) and parts of the large intestine. However, Crohn's disease isn't limited to these areas and can attack any part of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease causes inflammation that extends much deeper into the layers of the intestinal wall than ulcerative colitis does. Crohn's disease generally tends to involve the entire bowel wall, whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the lining of the bowel.

Probiotics are one of the most important components for healing your IBS or IBD and then ensuring you stay healed! For probiotics to have a therapeutic effect, clinical trials show you need to consume 7-10 billion cfu per day. So check the bottle and be sure you’re consuming enough each day to see the desired results. Take the powders if you’re experiencing diarrhea (or more than 3 bowel movements per day), heartburn, or upper GI problems. If your bowel movements are normal or constipated, you can take the capsules, if you prefer.

Natren formulations are classified in the following way: You can get the powders in Dairy-based or Dairy-free formulas. The capsules listed here are all Dairy-free. If you’re just testing and don’t know which you need, then start with one of the Tripacks – the bottles are quite small. Once you know which formulation suits your system best, you may want to buy the largest size bottle of each – since it’s the best deal for your money.