QI have been hearing about something called probiotics that are beneficial to your health. What are they, and can you find them in foods?

AWhile we have been hearing more about probiotics recently, they have been used for more than 100 years. Many of us have less of these "good bacteria" in our gastrointestinal tract compared to people many years ago. Researchers attribute this to the fact that sugar helps excessive amounts of bad bacteria to grow in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, they take over and reduce the number of good bacteria.

The more than 175 pounds of sugar that the average American eats each year provides plenty of fuel for the growth of these bad bacteria.

Probiotics are small organisms that help to maintain the natural balance of organisms in the digestive tract. The "normal" human digestive tract contains about 400 types of these good bacteria, which reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system. The health of your digestive system is related to the health of your immune system, which is your body's natural defense system. It's hard for one to be healthy if the other is not.

Probiotics are believed to increase the acidity of the intestinal tract to fight and kill bad bacteria. They also compete with bad bacteria for nutrition and space in the intestines.

Many health claims are associated with probiotics. These include:

* Enhancing the immunity of the intestines;

* Decreasing the number of disease-causing bacteria;

* Relieving diarrhea, including traveler's diarrhea;

* Reducing irritable bowel flare-ups;

* Clearing up eczema in children;

* Preventing allergic inflammation and food allergies in children.

Some of the best research on probiotics deals with preventing allergies in children. A study in Finland used the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The researchers gave a group of pregnant women probiotics every day for a few weeks prior to their due dates. For six months after delivery, the women who breast-fed continued on probiotics and those who bottle-fed gave their infants the probiotics directly.

All of the babies were considered at high risk of developing allergies because a parent or sibling had a history of allergies. Those children who received the probiotics were half as likely to develop allergic eczema, a skin condition, by the age of 2.

Although most of the studies on probiotics are preliminary, the possible implications for health are promising.

When it comes to finding probiotics in food, take a look at yogurt. Be aware, not all yogurts are made equal. The bacteria required to be in yogurt, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, are just two of the probiotic bacteria that are beneficial to health. When shopping for yogurt, look for "Live and Active Cultures" on the label, and then check out the ingredient listing for several of the following probiotic bacteria:

Lactobacillus acidopholous

Bifidobacteria (Bifida)

Lactobacillus casei

Lactobacillus reuteri

Since these are not harmful, and negative side effects are rarely seen, selecting a product with the good bacteria listed is worthwhile. A brand of yogurt readily available and with a variety of probiotic bacteria added is Stonyfield Farms. In addition, acidophilus milk contains probiotic bacteria. To maintain the levels of the good bacteria, it is important to store these products below 40 degrees.

Probiotic supplements are another choice. As with all dietary supplements, make sure you buy a reputable brand that contains what the label says it does. According to the Physician's Desk Reference for Nutritional Supplements, 1 to 10 billion probiotics per gram a few times a week is suggested for general good health. As far as using these for the prevention and treatment of disease, we suggest that you discuss probiotics with your physician. Many complementary medicine practitioners feel that probiotics do not need to be used long-term, but rather a change in diet with a reduction in sugar will help stave off bad bacteria.

If you are already a yogurt fan, look for one that includes these probiotics. If you are not a regular consumer of yogurt, this may be one healthful food you want to add to your grocery list.