Written by:
Roger Rose, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Services, Wickenburg Community Hospital
Probiotics are “good” bacteria used to help maintain a healthy gut, which in turn helps strengthen the immune system. When the gut flora becomes disrupted or wiped out, through such things as antibiotic use and chronic stress, pathogenic bacteria have the opportunity to settle. This can lead to a cascade of catastrophic events such as intestinal hyper-permeability, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Probiotics help to restore balance, and have also been shown to help manage skin problems such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. There are many strains of probiotics, and the type and strength you take determine the benefits. Your local pharmacist can help you select the probiotic that is best for you.