Approximately 20% of the population worldwide suffers from allergies. Allergies can be a bothersome condition, disrupting daily chores. Conventionally anti-inflammatory and anti histamine drugs, to avoid continuous use of these drugs researchers are exploring the role of natural remedies for symptom reduction the condition, and their solution is – Probiotics For Allergy Treatment. Allergies can be of different types but the mechanism of any probiotic to counter it is similar, let us find out how it works.

How Probiotics Help Treat Allergies

Allergies are precipitated by allergens, that cause allergenic symptoms, but the root cause of allergic reactions is also an compromised, weakened and misbalanced immune system. Poor immunity is a result of bad food and lifestyle choices. The key principal line of action of probiotics is to build up this compromised immunity. Primarily, probiotics contain live cultures of beneficial microbes that replace the the disease causing microbes in the gut. Thy also support controlled antigen (foreign body) absorption and reduce hypersensitivity and inflammatory intestinal reactions. The role of probiotics in allergy management has been found to be promising because its ability to reduce inflammatory cytokines and improve intestinal permeability. Studies have shown probiotic efficacy in alleviating symptoms of many allergic conditions, such as eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma and food allergies. Among infants and children, probiotics ingestion from the beginning can help protect them from allergies in life. Probiotic supplementation among children has been found to be very effective in countering eczema, brich pollen allergy, and cedar pollen allergy.

The Pediatric age group is extremely prone to allergies, studies have shown that in pregnant mothers who have a family history of allergy, probiotic supplementation during pregnancy, and infant probiotic supplementation for 6 months after birth increased immune system stimulation. When these infants turned 10 – 20 years they suffered from significantly fewer allergic diseases.

More conclusive evidence is required among adults, but probiotic supplementation reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis, asthama, and allergic rhinitis.

How To Use Probiotics To Treat Allergies

• Probiotic therapy essentially requires ingestion of live cultures of microbes (can be single or a combination)
• The efficacy of probiottic supplementations is dose and strain dependent.
• Food Labels of probiotics should be read carefully to assess microbial strain and expiration date of commercially available products.
• Probiotics should be taken on a regular basis for maintenance of a healthy immune system.
• Probiotics can be consumed in daily diet in the form of diary products like acidophilus milk, kefir, cultured milk, cultured buttermilk, and yogurt.
• Probiotics can also be added to daily diet by incorporating soy, rice or coconut milk with live microbes, pickled vegetables (Raw kimchi, sauerkraut or pickled beets, carrots or other vegetables), probiotic juices, hummus, tempeh, natto, formulated health bars, miso, cereals, and certain probiotic salad dressings.
• Probiotics are also available as a wide variety of dietary supplements in capsule, tablets or liquid forms for easy use.
• Prebiotics when consumed along with probiotics boost their efficacy.

Best Probiotics for Allergies

Research has shown that in general the lactobacillus and ifidobacterium specis, but specifically non-pathogenic E coli, S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus,  L. casei,  L. fermentum, L. GG, L. acidophilus, B. lactis, and  B. longum.  Some of the commercial products that can be consumed to experience the benefits are Acidophilus milk, Nutrition now PB8 Acidophilus, ProGreens, Probiotic Pearls 90, Probiotic complex quantum, Probiotic yoghurt, Choice Super 8 High Potency Probiotic, Advanced Adult Probiotic, Yakult, Align, Activia yogurt, EcoVag, Yoplait YoPlus, Stonyfield yogurt, Pearl, Dong Quai, Coco Biotic, Goodbelly splash, Goodbelly probiotic fruit drink, Mutaflor, Actimel, etc.

Things to Remember while Using Probiotic Therapy

Probiotic foods are well tolerated aand safe to be used among all age groups. Probiotic intake is only contraindicated in people who have immunity disorders like HIV as it may lead to increase in infections.

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