Men need probiotics to promote a healthy gut microbiome that supports digestion and nutrient absorption, as well as to replenish heavyweight bacteria after conditions like food poisoning, stomach viruses and antibiotics have depleted it.
Select a quality supplement with multiple bacterial strains to obtain maximum benefits, and one that uses AFU (active fluorescent units) instead of CFU as its potency measure.
1. Streptococcus thermophiles
Streptococcus thermophiles is a Gram-positive bacteria, popularly referred to as probiotic. Due to its health-promoting properties, Streptococcus thermophiles has become one of the original strains used to make yogurt; its active components work by blocking bad bacteria from attaching themselves to intestinal cells while helping reduce inflammation and improve gut function. Streptococcus thermophiles is also found in food like dairy products, meat and fish products.
This bacteria is commonly used as the basis for traditional fermented foods, including cheese and yogurt, such as starter cultures. Due to its ability to survive harsh gastrointestinal tract environments such as stomach acid and bile acid levels, it makes an excellent candidate for probiotic supplementation.
S. thermophiles has been proven to promote digestive health in infants. According to one study, infants given S. thermophiles and Bifidobacterium bifidum supplements had less diarrhea than infants who didn’t take these bacterial supplements. Furthermore, they can help fight viruses, fungi and parasites present in their intestinal tract.
S. thermophiles is an anaerobic, catalase-negative and non-spore forming strain of lactic acid bacteria, often used as starter bacteria in dairy fermentation processes due to its ability to tolerate high temperatures. Under microscope it resembles either a sphere or coccus when seen under the microscope and lives either alone, in pairs or chains. As S. thermophiles thrives at such high temperatures it makes an ideal starter culture.
S. thermophiles not only produces lactic acid but can also produce exopolysaccharides to provide protection from gastric and bile acids as well as have anti-inflammatory effects.
The genes epsE, epsF, and epsG of S. thermophilus control the production of exopolysaccharide through exopolysaccharide synthase. Gene epsE encodes for phosphogalactosyltransferase which transfers galactose onto lipophilic carriers; later the genes epsF and epsG convert these carriers to b-galactoside precursors which are polymerized into exopolysaccharides to form exopolysaccharides polymerized polymer chains and polymerized into exopolysaccharides that polymerize over time into exopolysaccharides which then polymerize into exopolysaccharides;
Probiotics rely on bacteria being able to survive the rigorous conditions of the gastrointestinal tract as one key trait; this allows them to pass from GIT into colon. Unfortunately, many studies that have evaluated S. thermophilus in stool samples have not done so with due taxonomic accuracy, potentially misidentifying other bacteria from within GIT that reside there and leading to false-negative reports or incorrect interpretation of results.
2. Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the best-known probiotic bacteria. A member of the Lactobacillus family, it’s found throughout human digestive tract, mouth and vagina, as well as certain foods. Probiotics help break down food into nutrients for absorption while fighting off “bad” organisms which could potentially cause disease; some processed foods also add probiotics as supplements; this “good” bacteria has even been used to treat conditions like IBS, diarrhea, high cholesterol and bacterial vaginosis.
Probiotics can also be of great assistance for people taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill all bacteria, including beneficial ones found in your gut flora; by adding probiotics back into their routine after finishing taking an antibiotic dose, balance will likely return afterward.
This bacteria is also widely recognized for its ability to decrease allergies. Studies have demonstrated that it can significantly decrease symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis (eczema) as well as improve effectiveness of steroid cream treatments for treating this condition.
Another of these beneficial bacteria’s roles is to facilitate faster digestive process and lessen visits to the porcelain throne, helping prevent constipation as a result.
Urogenetically and vaginally, probiotics may fight infections caused by fungus that infiltrate the urinary tract and genital area. Probiotics have been shown to decrease Candida albicans growth while attenuating severity of vaginal yeast infections known as Vulvodynia.
This bacteria can be found in some dairy products, like yogurt, but is most frequently seen as part of dietary supplements. You can purchase it alone or mixed in with Bifidobacterium bifidum at health food stores and drugstores; just remember not to exceed the manufacturer-recommended dosage as taking more may cause side effects like gas or bloating. Always consult a health care practitioner first as they will advise safe dosages, interactions with medications, precautions and precautions for taking such supplements.
3. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (abbreviated LGG) is one of the most extensively researched probiotic strains available today, having first been isolated from healthy individuals’ feces samples by Sherwood Gorbach and Barry Goldin in 1983. They chose this name due to its desirable qualities as an effective probiotic strain: resistance to stomach acid and bile, ability to consistently attach and colonize human intestinal epithelial cells, production of antimicrobial substances and rapid growth rate.
LGG may bind to intestinal cells using its long and adhesive pilus fibers, providing it with an intimate link with host cells and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria from adhering to intestinal epithelial cells through both competitive exclusion and displacement mechanisms.
LGG may also help with various health conditions, ranging from skin to gut health and immune support. An RCT showed that children suffering abdominal pain who took probiotics containing 10 billion CFU of L. rhamnosus GG saw significant improvements after just one week of treatment with such probiotics.
One similar study with very low birth weight infants demonstrated that when given with lactoferrin, L. rhamnosus GG significantly reduced necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Furthermore, its use was associated with an increase in gut permeability and an increase in immunoglobulin G levels – indicators of immune strength.
Researchers continue their exploration of the gut-lung axis and there are indications that probiotics such as L. rhamnosus GG could assist asthmatics by increasing gut microbiome biodiversity and improving respiratory function.
Though L. rhamnosus GG is generally safe for most people, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult with their physician prior to beginning. Starting off slowly will ensure your body adapts. Also important: telling your physician about any medications (prescription and nonprescription), vitamins, herbal supplements or any other nutrients taken currently or previously as some may interfere with one another and should always check before adding anything new into your routine.
4. Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococci are bacteria found naturally in the gut and bowel. However, excessive numbers can accumulate in the body, and cause infections in various parts of it. Enterococcus faecalis is often responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs), genital tract infections such as cystitis or prostatitis cystitis as well as intraabdominal and wound infections as well as serious blood infections called bacteremia.
Bacteremia occurs when bacteria that have made their way into the bloodstream attack and kill cells throughout the body, typically entering through an infected urinary tract or spread via catheterization or other medical devices (for instance surgical wound). Enterococci are particularly dangerous as they have proven resistant to antibiotic treatment and thus remain difficult to manage (8).
Researchers have recently discovered that E. faecalis strains associated with urinary tract infection possess unique molecular characteristics that enable them to thrive within the urinary tract, including genes which enhance adhesion to bladder epithelium cells and inhibit host defense mechanisms – possibly explaining why such bacteria tend to cause urinary tract infections (UTIs and other infections) more often among individuals who lack effective immune systems.
Studies have demonstrated that taking probiotics after antibiotics can replenish populations of beneficial bacteria, and reduce risks caused by antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis strains. They may also benefit your health by helping your intestines produce good digestive hormones and prevent unhealthy fats from forming in your gut.
Antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer should be used after using the toilet and before eating to lower your risk of E. faecalis infection and other germs. Furthermore, washing hands after touching shared items like TV remotes and doorknobs is highly recommended as well as asking healthcare providers to wear gloves when handling wounds or catheters and wipe down surfaces like blood pressure cuffs and thermometers that have been touched by multiple patients.
If you have been infected by E. faecalis bacteria, your doctor will take a sample and have it tested at a lab to see which antibiotic works best to treat it. Most commonly ampicillin will be prescribed but if ampicillin doesn’t work the infection may need to be treated with vancomycin or linezolid instead.