
According to Katherine Zerensky, nutritionist at the Mayo Clinic, probiotics, the "good" bacteria in the gut, may help with digestion and offer protection from the destructive properties of "bad" bacteria. Probiotics can be taken in supplement form or attained from foods such as yogurt, miso and some juice or soy drinks. Look for labels with wording such as "live and active cultures."
Probiotics may help treat conditions such as diarrhea, IBS, intestinal infections and may even prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu. Probiotics may help anyone who has recently taken antibiotics, since antibiotics strip the gut of bacteria, including your good bacteria.
Probiotics are often a useful tool to relieve the IBS symptoms that afflict most fibromyalgia patients. As the National Fibromyalgia Association states, "Glutamine plus probiotics are also among the supplements often used for fibromyalgia. These are intended to promote an optimal environment for absorption of nutrients and are based on the theory that fibromyalgia symptoms may be caused by gut malabsorption of nutrients."
A probiotic, which adds good bacteria only for the time it is being taken, seems to influence other bacteria already present. For example, it might stimulate other bacteria to turn on or off certain genes. These genes, in turn, might be involved in various functions, such as immune regulation or nutrient metabolism.
There is now evidence that shows gut health and brain health are inextricably linked. What you ingest and how healthy your stomach is can be directly related to neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, fibromyalgia, and depression.
A review from March 2015, written by Canada’s McMaster University researchers, claims there is bidirectional communication between the gut and brain. If the bacteria in our gut are unhealthy, the communication dysfunctions and can lead to metabolic, neuropsychological, and gastrointestinal disorders.
I've recently purchased GNC's Ultra 25 Billion Complex PACKETS. I've been amazed at my body's response these last few months. I've experienced overall less pain and fatigue. Furthermore, those opportunistic bugs that plague fibromyalgia patients have been kept at bay. I encourage you to give this one a try. Just sprinkle on kefir or yogurt in the morning and you're good to go all day!