Not to be outdone, a company in the United States has followed suit by launching a line of probiotic fruit drinks called GoodBelly Fruit Juice Drink. Like the Swedish line, GoodBelly contains probiotics, but is a juice drink rather than a 100% fruit juice. It’s being marketed as a drink to maintain healthy gut bacteria and enhance immunity, but not specifically as a drink to fight off colds.

Are probiotic supplemented drinks really effective for fighting off colds? There is some evidence suggesting that they are. A Swedish study showed that workers who took a supplement containing the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri every day missed fewer work days due to illness than those who didn’t. In fact their rate of absence was cut by more than half. Another study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that probiotics children given probiotic dietary supplements during the cold weather months experienced fewer cold symptoms and missed less days of school due to illness.

How can these good bacteria reduce the risk of viral infections? Probiotics are thought to fight off colds by enhancing the immune response to foreign invaders such as viruses. Many of the immune cells that fight infection are located in the gut, so it makes sense that strengthening the defense system in the intestines would help to fight off cold and flu viruses. Many studies looking at probiotics to fight off colds have been encouraging, although some have shown little or no effect. Research in this area is still in its early stages, but there’s quite a bit of interest since this could be a safe and natural way to boost the body’s response to a variety of viruses and bacteria that cause infection.

Even if the use of probiotics to fight off colds remains unproven, probiotics are believed to have other health benefits including maintenance of digestive health and aiding the absorption of some vitamins and nutrients. In women, they may reduce the incidence of vaginal yeast infections when taken consistently.

Although the United States has yet to offer a 100% juice that’s fortified with probiotics, there are other good ways to get these “healthy” bacteria. Some good sources are fermented foods of all types including yogurt with active cultures, miso, kefir, tempeh, and sauerkraut. GoodBelly Fruit Juice drinks can also be purchased in some areas. Don’t be surprised to find a probiotic 100% juice available in the U.S. in the near future. With such a strong interest in probiotics, it’s just a question of time.

One of the largest outbreaks of intestinal parasites occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1993 when the drinking water was contaminated with Cryptosporidium. Over 400,000 people were taken ill by the unpleasant effects of intestinal parasites – a situation few in Milwaukee want to see repeated. The good news is a new study shows that probiotics may help to protect the intestines against the effects of intestinal parasites.

A Study

This study which was published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe showed that probiotic bacteria recognized and launched an immune response against a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii which laboratory mice were infected with. It appears that when probiotic bacteria are present in the intestines, their presence led to an immune response against the parasitic invaders, preventing them from attaching to the gut wall and leading to infection.

What About the Effects of Probiotics on the Human Gut?

This positive effect of probiotics was seen in mice, but there’s growing evidence that probiotics may help to protect the human gut against infection with bacteria and parasites. Not only do probiotics appear to increase the immune response to these foreign pathogens, but they also have an anti-inflammatory effect which helps to stabilize the overall gut environment.  

Toxoplasma

The particular bacteria, Toxoplasma gondii used in this mouse study is one that can be passed to humans through infected cat feces. It’s estimated that over thirty percent of the population carries the Toxoplasma parasite. Most people have mild symptoms when first exposed and are then immune, but it can cause serious problems for people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women. A pregnant woman infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy can pass it to her unborn baby with serious repercussion.  This is why women who are pregnant are advised to avoid changing the cat litter box.

A Positive for the Gut?

Could probiotics give an additional layer of protection against the effects of intestinal parasites? More human studies are needed, but eating more probiotic rich foods may be a plus when it comes to protecting intestinal health. Good sources of probiotics are fermented foods such as miso, aged cheese, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kefir. Yogurt with active yogurt cultures is also an excellent source. Some breakfast cereals and energy bars are also fortified with probiotics.

The bottom line? Adding these foods to your diet could turn out to be a cheap insurance policy against intestinal parasites.