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Probiotic Cold Remedy

One of the biggest annoyances about the common cold is its very commonness. This viral upper respiratory infection poses little long-term threat to your health and that of your family, but its symptoms can make life miserable for you and those around you. There is, however, some good news on the front lines of the war against the common cold. A recent study shows that probiotic supplements can significantly reduce cold symptoms.

  1. What Are Probiotics?

    • Sometimes referred to as "good bacteria," probiotics are tiny living organisms -- mostly bacteria -- that help you to digest foods and protect you against pathogens that may enter the gastrointestinal tract, according to MayoClinic.com. A growing body of evidence indicates that these tiny organisms may be able to play an even bigger role in promoting and preserving your overall health, according to a MayoClinic.com article written by Michael Picco, M.D. Probiotics are present in many of the foods you eat, including fermented and unfermented milk, yogurt, soy drinks and miso.

    Chinese Study

    • So how can probiotics help you to fight off colds or at least minimize their symptoms? Some answers to those questions were provided by a Chinese study, which was published in the August 2009 issue of Pediatrics, according to a Reuters report. The study was conducted among 326 Chinese children between the ages of 3 and 5. The children were randomly divided into three different groups. The first was given twice-daily servings of milk to which Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterium was added. The second group got two daily servings of milk that contained both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium animalis, another good bacterium. The third group was given milk to which a placebo had been added.

      Chinese researchers conducting the study found that the children in the second group who received milk laced with two probiotics had 72 percent fewer fevers, 59 percent fewer runny noses and 62 percent fewer coughing episodes, according to Reuters. The average duration of cold symptoms in children receiving Lactobacillus was reduced 32 percent, while the duration of symptoms dropped an impressive 48 percent in those getting both probiotics.

    How They Work

    • If you want to ward off colds and other types of viral and bacterial infections, probiotics can be a key ally because they promote a healthy balance of bacteria in your intestines. In an article on PreventTheFlu.com, gastroenterologist Joseph Brasco observes that "since the majority of the immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract, balance of intestinal bacteria is vital to helping our bodily defenses function properly."

      Since modern diets are generally deficient in the live cultures that are naturally rich in probiotics, it is a good idea to take a daily probiotic supplement to maintain a healthy bacterial balance in your intestinal tract. Look for supplements that contain strains of the Lactobacillus acidophilus and/or Bifidobacterium animalis bacteria, which can be found in health food stores and on the dietary supplement shelves of most pharmacies and supermarkets. The average capsule of probiotic supplement contains 1 billion or more colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, according to the Harvard Health Publications website.

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