There are strains of bacteria that have curative powers for a number of afflictions – among them the candida vaginal yeast infection that impacts millions of women at one point or another. Some probiotic supplements work well as antifungal agents, especially after the body has been stripped of all types of bacteria due to an infusion of antibiotics.
Lactobacillus GG, or LGG is a strain of bacteria that has been tested against the candida yeast in mice and found to have positive results. The supplement Culturelle manufactured by ConAgra contains this strain, a type of bacteria that has actually been patented for commercial use by the two scientists who isolated it – and whose names both begin with G.
It is also favored for its resistance to stomach acid, which allows more of the organisms to survive on the way through the stomach to the large intestine. For that reason it is an excellent probiotic choice to be included during the course of a colon cleanse cycle, which cleans all bacteria out of the intestine – good and bad.
There is also probiotic yeast with the medical name Saccharomyces boulardii which has proven to be effective with pathogens – a generic term for destructive bacteria. It has proven to be effective with diarrhea, especially when it is caused by the use of antibiotics. There is also some indication that it may have a positive effect on irritable bowel syndrome.
This probiotics yeast raises levels of naturally formed digestive enzymes (sucrose, lactase, and maltase); it increases levels of short chain fatty acids necessary for intestinal health; and it reduces substances that increase digestive inflammation. For this last reason it is considered effective with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Unlike most yeast forms it does not plant itself and grow. If it isn’t reinforced by additional doses it will die off within three days and be excreted in the digestive process. There are several commercial supplements available that feature this unusual and productive probiotic yeast, among them products from Allergy Research Group and Nutricology. It is also included in several brands of organic probiotic diet products now on the market.