I have been so impressed with the amazing power of probiotics in our family in keeping us well.
You may have heard about probiotics in correlation with digestion. And while it is true that they help regulate your digestive track they do much more than just that.
Yes it’s the good bacteria in yogurt but we take it in a tablet form getting MUCH more of these good guys in our system. We have been taking a daily probiotic for about a year and a half now and I can’t help but notice…we sure haven’t seen our doctors office in a while!
Probiotics can provide multiple benefits for your immune system. When probiotics are abundant in your body, it’s harder for bacteria that cause illness to get a foothold. Some also keep you healthy by making bacteriocins, which suppress the growth of harmful bacteria.-Dr. Oz
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About two years ago our youngest daughter had a double ear infection. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic and sent us home.
I guess that is standard procedure but I was a little disappointed she was prescribed the SAME antibiotic that gave her a horrible rash only 6 months before that!
When we got home from the doctor I was very hesitant to give her the antibiotic so I did some homework to see if there was anything else I could do first. What I found was very interesting.
The word “antibiotic” at its root meaning translates “no life” And I’m sure you don’t need me telling you “probiotic” means pro life. If that weren’t enough to raise a few eyebrows, what about the countless side effects caused by antibiotics including the NEED for a probiotic?? What in the world?
Essentially we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies. We need more of the good to fight off the bad. The good guys and the bad fighting each other in our body (I’m sure that’s how they describe it in the medical textbooks.)
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Yes antibiotics have their place, and we haven’t completely sworn them off but in my humble opinion they are prescribed WAYYYYY too much. The best defense is a good offense so I decided to try what probiotics could do for our family.
Back to the ear infection story…I ultimatley decided to start giving my daughter a probiotic and treat her ear infection with garlic drops. Yes garlic drops. I got the idea from keeper of the home but essentially you just heat olive oil and fresh chopped garlic on the stove until it is warm but not too hot. Then simply put a few drops in each ear 3 times a day. Her ear infection was completely gone in 24 hours without a drop of the prescribed antibiotic. I continued the drops for about 3 days and both our girls have had a probiotic pretty much every day since (over 2 years ago). That was the last time we have had an ear infection OR a sick visit to the doctor.
Did you catch that!!? That means no waiting in a crowded waiting room, no co-pays, no trips to the pharmacy and more time feeling WELL!!
I was so impressed at how quickly the natural remedy worked I was hooked! I loaded up my “natural medicine cabinet” And have been fascinated with natural remedies since.
The one thing I have learned over anything else is how amazingly beneficial it is to take a daily probiotic.
When the stomach flu hit our school so bad the teacher sent him a note….we had one tummy ache, for one afternoon, and that was it.
When our kids shared drinks with a child who we later realized had “hand foot and mouth disease”…nothing.
When ALL of their friends they play with on a regular basis had the flu, we just had a little runny nose.
I’m not nieve enough to think they make our kids made of steel but I can’t help but notice they sure seem to keep their immunity up!
I recently had what I thought to be the start of a UTI. I loaded up on probiotics and cranberry juice, two days later, no more symptoms.
If you decide to give it a try I suggest taking them daily not just when you feel sick. The idea is to keep the immunity wall up instead of trying to build it when you are under attack.
What kind should you get?
We have tried several kinds but I have been the most happy with Kyo-dophilus from luckyvitamin.com. (Lucky vitamin is VERY affordable. I love them for all my hippy remedies).
Kyo-dophilus also comes in several adult options and our kids LOVE the children’s chewable variety. They call them “marshmallow vitamins” and I even offer them as a treat! Bribe them with vitamins…that’s what i’m talking about.
I like this kind because, from what I have researched, they seem to remain the most stable and actually make its way down to do it’s job instead of many varieties that can be destroyed as soon as they are injested due to stomach acid and body temperatures.
Every time I hear people talk about getting on antibiotics I want to shout knowing that often there is a better way!
We are so thankful for our daily pro-biotic. What are your thoughts of pro-biotics? Have you had any experience good or bad?
