Probiotics vs Antibiotics - What's The Difference?

Antibiotics have been around for years, and are beneficial to society in many ways. It is now known that prolonged use of antibiotics can upset the natural balance in our systems, leading to problems such as diarrhea and yeast infections.

Many people, up to one in five, discontinue their course of antibiotics due to diarrhea. One way of effectively combating antibiotic-induced diarrhea, and preventing yeast infections is supplementing your diet with probiotics.

We have over 400 species of bacteria in our intestines that help us absorb nutrients and minerals, and are beneficial to our immune system. The “good” bacteria also produce substances that keep pathogenic bacteria in check. Antibiotics kill pathogenic bacteria in the large intestine, but also “good” bacteria. This can upset the natural state of the gut flora and can lead to other health problems. Probiotics help to restore balance in the large intestine, which helps in the prevention of yeast and viral infections, and diarrhea.

Where are probiotics?

Probiotics are available in some foods such as live yogurts, miso and buttermilk. There are also supplements that are available in many health food stores. One of the main advantages of probiotics is that there are rarely any adverse effects, even when taken in high dosages, and they are considered to be safe for children.

Because they are dietary supplements, probiotics are not as regulated as conventional drugs, and so active doses can vary widely between products. It is best to do some research into the probiotic you wish to take to find out how much of the active ingredient is contained. Generally speaking supplements contain higher doses of probiotics than natural foods. Probiotics have also been proven to have no adverse effects on the antibiotics themselves, so will not interfere with treatment.

Additional Probiotics Benefits.

Probiotics have other benefits also, such as boosting immunity and improving digestion. The bacteria inside of us can make a tremendous difference to the way that we look and feel. Probiotics are a great way of introducing beneficial bacteria to your system, especially when a course of antibiotics has affected the balance of the gut flora.

A prolonged course of antibiotics can kill “good” bacteria in the large intestine, so it is a good idea to replace some of this beneficial bacteria into your system. Probiotics are a safe and effective way of helping restore the natural balance of bacteria in the large intestine after taking a course of antibiotics.