The more probiotics a person contains, the better? Debunking 4 common myths

A healthy intestine keeps you young! In recent years, Chinese people have developed a special liking for "probiotics" and widely believe that they are essential products for gastrointestinal health and home health care. However, experts remind that probiotics are not suitable for everyone, and the more bacteria they contain, the better. The most sensible health decision is to consult with a doctor and pharmacist before taking them.

Pharmacist Lin Mingshen from the Department of Pharmacy of Far Eastern Hospital pointed out that probiotics generally refer to strains that are beneficial to the human body in appropriate quantities. They were first used by humans in food processing, such as the production of cheese and yogurt. It was not until the late 19th century that they were discovered to potentially improve gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and constipation. In recent years, probiotics have even been used in the auxiliary treatment or prevention of many diseases.

Live probiotics are the real good bacteria

The strains that are widely used at present are mainly divided into three categories: Lactobacillus acidophilus (commonly known as lactic acid bacteria; Lactobacillus), Bifidobacteria and Saccharomyces boulardii. Among them, only bacteria that are beneficial to the human body are defined as probiotics, such as the common B. lactis, B. longum or Lactobacillus casei.

Studies have found that probiotics can only work effectively when they are live bacteria. However, this type of bacteria is generally not resistant to stomach acid. After oral use, it is easily destroyed by stomach acid and turned into dead bacteria, affecting its effect. Therefore, some products may need to be refrigerated or protected using specific dosage forms in order to ensure that the probiotics can survive and not be destroyed. Please take and store according to the instructions.

Chinese people have a special liking for "probiotics", but they should consult with their doctors and pharmacists first, which is the key to health.

Probiotic abuse raises health warnings

Pharmacist Lam Ming Sun stressed that although probiotics are good bacteria and have some functions in assisting gastrointestinal health, there are four common misconceptions among the Chinese people, and some even "over-abuse" them instead of regular treatment, raising health warning signs. Therefore, before using probiotics, people must consult a doctor and pharmacist to avoid health risks.

Myth 1: Can everyone take probiotics? Will it be a problem for children to eat it?

• Note: Probiotics are not completely risk-free. Studies have shown that the use of probiotics appears to be safe in adults, the elderly, infants, and pregnant women, but there are still potential safety concerns in some specific groups (such as pancreatitis, immune deficiency, etc.).

Myth 2: The more bacteria content, the better?

• Note: Taking lactic acid bacteria as an example, the colony-forming units of the intestines of normal healthy adults contain approximately 10 to 10 million lactic acid bacteria per gram (103-107 CFU/g). The amount of supplementary bacteria used in current related research is approximately between 10 million and 1 billion per supplement. Excessive amounts of probiotics may not be good for the body, but may cause diarrhea or other infections.

Myth 3: Can I take probiotics while taking antibiotics?

• Note: Because probiotics are more fragile than drug-resistant pathogens, it is more effective for patients who are undergoing antibiotic therapy to supplement with probiotics after the end of the treatment. If the antibiotic course is long and must be used together, it is recommended to supplement with probiotics 2 hours after taking antibiotics, as probiotics may be more likely to survive.

Myth 4: Can probiotics improve respiratory allergies?

• Note: There is currently no medical evidence that probiotics can replace current treatments. Patients are reminded not to be overly superstitious and should follow the doctor's instructions to receive regular medical treatment. In addition, allergens in the environment, such as dust mites, can be reduced on a daily basis. For example, using a dehumidifier to control indoor humidity at 50-60%, and washing bedding about once every two weeks, all of which can help reduce attacks.

【Intimate Reminder】：

There is currently no evidence that healthy people can gain additional benefits from taking probiotics for a long time. Instead of spending a lot of money on probiotics, it is better to change your eating habits first. In particular, chew slowly, eat a balanced diet, eat small amounts of varied food, and stop eating when you are 80% full. This will allow the gastrointestinal digestion to function normally and avoid gaining weight.