The Power of Probiotics: Improving Your Health with Beneficial Microbes

by Gary W. Elmer, Lynne V Mcfarland, Marc Mcfarland, Ethan B Russo

Overview

Get information you can trust to make the right decisions about probiotics

The Power of Probiotics is a consumer-friendly guide to the selection and use of probiotics that have been proven effective in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. This jargon-free reference resource provides practical advice on how and when to use probiotics and how to select the best commercially available products, based on usefulness, quality, and safety, to lower the risk of disease and maintain a positive health image. The book offers objective information on evaluating product claims, making sense of regulations and labeling, and sorting through manufacturing and marketing issues.

The Power of Probiotics presents an expert review of the scientific evidence for probiotics, illustrated with summary tables and diagrams for quick reference. Each chapter starts with a series of FAQs with clear and concise answers before moving into more in-depth analysis from the book’s authors, who combine more than 20 years of research from the patient clinic and the bench laboratory with extensive experience in writing and translating medical articles for consumer-oriented publications. This unique book presents definitions and descriptions of probiotics and a history of their uses, a review of medical conditions prevented and/or treated by probiotics, available products (with brand names), uses with other medications, and risks and side effects.

The Power of Probiotics examines the treatment and/or prevention of:

• allergies
• cancer
• colds and flu
• constipation
• dental health
• diarrhea
• high cholesterol
• indigestion
• inflammatory bowel diseases
• pseudomembranous colitis
• stomach ulcers
• stress
• urinary tract infections
• vaginal infections
• weight loss
• and much more!

The Power of Probiotics is an essential resource for health-conscious consumers who are interested in natural alternatives to conventional medicines. Health professionals, educators, and students will also benefit from the book’s extensive references.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789029010
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/06/2007
Series:	Haworth Series in Integrative Healing
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	5.81(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Authored by Elmer, Gary W.; Mcfarland, Lynne V; Mcfarland, Marc; Russo, Ethan B

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What are Probiotics?
• History of Probiotics
• Medical Conditions for Probiotics
• The "Ideal" Probiotic
• Properties of Current Probiotics
• How to Evaluate Scientific Studies
• Regulations for Probiotics
• The Future of Probiotics
• Chapter 2. Traveler’s Diarrhea
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Risks for Traveler’s Diarrhea
• Prevention of Traveler’s Diarrhea
• Treatments for Traveler’s Diarrhea
• Conclusions and Observations
• Chapter 3. Acute Diarrhea
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Acute Pediatric Diarrhea
• Acute Adult Diarrhea
• Overall Conclusions
• Chapter 4. Antibiotics-Associated Diarrhea and Colitis
• Antiboiotics-Associated Diarrhea
• Clostridium Difficile AAD
• Conclusions
• Chapter 5. Vaginal and Urinary Tract Infections
• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Candidal Vaginitis
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Summary
• Chapter 6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Digestive Problems
• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Pouchitis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Lactose Intolerance
• Constipation
• Summary
• Chapter 7. Allergies
• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
• Adult Allergies
• Chapter 8. Miscellaneous Disorders
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Cancer
• High Cholesterol
• Dental Health
• Diabetes
• Hepatic Encephalopathy
• Hospital Infections
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Immunity
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Stomach Ulcers
• Stress
• Weight Loss
• Conclusion
• Chapter 9. Probiotic Products on the Market
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Alphabetical Listing of Probiotics
• Conclusion
• Chapter 10. Buying the Best Product
• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Five Questions
• Where to Find Information
• Conclusion
• Chapter 11. Safety of Probiotics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Risks in General
• Reported Adverse Effects
• Quality Control
• Contraindications
• Special Concerns
• Drug Interactions
• Conclusions and Observations
• Notes
• Index

What People are Saying About This

Gerard Corthier

OFFERS A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE TOPICS IN AN EASY TO READ FORMAT. Each chapter includes a Frequently Asked Questions allowing a good understanding of the topic by non specialist readers. . . . Specialists will appreciate to find at the end of each chapter the quoted references supporting the text. . . . The authors have produced A GOOD SCIENTIFIC WORK. . . . The clear illustrations and the synthetic tables permit a quick reading of only some book chapters if necessary. . . . A SUCCESS . . . the scientists of the domain should read this complete and interesting review. (Dr Gerard Corthier, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Directeur Unite Ecologie Physiologie Systeme Digestif, Cedex, France)

Sheryl Berman

A PERFECT RESOURCE FOR CONSUMERS AND HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS in a field that is expanding by the minute. . . . A comprehensive, readable and at times humorous review of the current state of probiotics. The authors approach information in a user friendly format with an emphasis on the practical use of probiotics. They even give background on each of the health conditions with treatment options and guidelines for usage. . . . AN INDISPENSABLE GUIDE for the person who wants to make sense of all the information available on these amazing microbes called probiotics. (Sheryl Berman, MS, PhD, Dean, School of Natural Health Sciences, Department Chair of Basic Sciences, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington)