| Everyone's heard of antibiotics but not everyone has | | | | kefir, a refreshing cultured-milk natural probiotic |
| heard of probiotics. It is such a rarely used word that | | | | beverage, originating centuries ago, from the |
| even my spell check doesn't recognize it. | | | | Caucasus mountain area. |
| If antibiotics is an agent or substance that kills or | | | | Kefir is more advantageous from yogurt and |
| inhibits the growth of bacteria then probiotics is in | | | | probiotic pills in that: |
| simple terms the exact opposite. It not only allows | | | | |
| bacteria to live, it makes it flourish in abundance. | | | | 1. it contains the most number of beneficial bacteria |
| Now you're probably asking yourself why in the | | | | 2. in the kefir medium, these beneficial bacteria are |
| world would anyone want to have a lot of bacteria. | | | | able to share perfect symbiosis with one another, |
| Well to set things right, not all bacteria is bad for us. | | | | synergistically increasing its overall health benefits |
| There are bad ones and there are good ones. | | | | 3. these beneficial bacteria are not turned dormant |
| The bad ones, we all know about. These are the | | | | but are very much alive and kicking, and are much |
| ones that cause little annoyances like diarrhea, | | | | more fit to do to their "magic" in your body |
| vomiting to infectious diseases like cholera, anthrax, | | | | Some of the health benefits attributed to Kefir are: |
| leprosy and the bubonic plague. Tuberculosis, the | | | | |
| most common fatal respiratory infection is also | | | | 1. helps milk digestibility for lactose intolerant |
| caused by bacteria. This is why antibiotics is so | | | | individuals |
| widespread and important. It helps keep the harmful | | | | 2. used to relieve all intestinal disorders, since it |
| bacteria away from us. | | | | cleanses the intestines and digestive tracts |
| Good bacteria, on the other hand, is not less | | | | 3. promotes bowel movement and reduces flatulence |
| common but is less known. Some beneficial bacteria | | | | 4. contributes to a healthy immune system |
| are known to counter aging, manage lactose | | | | 5. lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure |
| intolerance, improve immune function, prevent | | | | 6. reduces risk of cancer |
| infections, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure | | | | 7. used in the treatment of AIDS, diabetes, colon |
| among others. | | | | cancer and other cancers, chronic fatigue, herpes, |
| At this instance, there are millions and millions of live | | | | sleep disorders, ADHD, among others. |
| bacteria in and on your body. What we want is not | | | | And in addition to these beneficial bacteria, kefir is |
| the harmful bacteria but the beneficial bacteria. | | | | also rich in minerals like calcium and vitamins from |
| And this is why probiotics is so important. Probiotics | | | | Vitamin B1, B12, to Vitamin K. |
| increases the good bacteria in your body, making you | | | | In short, there are always two sides to a coin. There |
| healthier and happier. | | | | are good bacteria and bad bacteria. We know with |
| Yogurt is a common form of probiotic. There are also | | | | antibiotics we can get rid of the harmful bacteria, and |
| commercially produced probiotic supplementary pills, | | | | now we know how to harness the health benefits of |
| but the probiotic that we would like to focus on is | | | | the good bacteria we need probiotics like Kefir. |