The Effects of Probiotics on Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis, commonly called allergies, occurs when an environmental or food allergen causes a histamine response in the body of a sensitive person. If you are sensitive to allergens---suffering congestion, coughing and sneezing when you are in contact with pollen or pet hair---you can choose to use pharmaceuticals or opt for a more holistic approach.

What are Probiotics?

• The intestines are home to many different bacteria, some of which promote digestive health, and others that need to be kept under control. Probiotics is the name given to a group of intestinal bacteria that are beneficial to health. These bacteria belong to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families.

The Need for Probiotics

• A modern diet of processed foods with added sugar and chemicals could affect the balance of organisms in your gut. The best way to restore balance is to remove highly processed foods from your diet and add more whole foods, such as vegetables and whole grains. You can also supplement your diet with probiotics. According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, "One theory is that if you alter the microorganisms in a person's intestinal tract (as by introducing probiotic bacteria), you can affect the immune system's defenses."

Safety

• Probiotics are not a pharmaceutically created product, but rather a natural supplementation of bacteria already found in your system. Supplementing with probiotics can be as safe and simple as eating yogurt regularly. According to a 2001 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, "The safety of the microbes that have been used traditionally in probiotics has been confirmed through a long period of experience."

Effectiveness

• A 2008 study, reported on ABC news, showed that pregnant women who use probiotic supplements, or eat live culture yogurt, can decrease the possibility that their children will develop allergies. Another study, published July 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, examined with 47 school-age children with allergies. The children received either a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis or a placebo for four months. Researchers concluded that "the specific combination of probiotics used was shown to prevent the pollen-induced infiltration of eosinophils into the nasal mucosa, and indicated a trend for reduced nasal symptoms."

Availability

• Check your yogurt label for "live cultures." Most brands of yogurt contain Lactobacillus acidophilus, but some also contain strains of Bifidobacterium. Probiotics are also available in pill or powder form at health food stores.