Probiotic Side Effects

Side effects for Probiotics include gas or bloating. That's it.

Probiotic Supplements

There is a confusing array of probiotic supplements available.

There are capsules, liquids, frozen and dried powders, and even supplements for dogs and cats. Personally, I think a bit of cheese is more tasty.

Add your comments at the bottom of this page. Say what you think!

Aged Gouda Helps Fight Infections

Details About This Research:

Dr. Fandi Ibrahim is lead author of the study published in the medical journal FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology. Here's a bit about the methodology from that study:

The team asked volunteers aged between 72 and 103, all of whom lived in the same care home, to eat either one slice of probiotic Gouda cheese or a slice of placebo cheese with their breakfast for four weeks The fact that all the volunteers were living in the same building helped to reduce any differences caused by variations in diet and other environmental factors. Both the Gouda cheeses used in the experiment were commercially available and the probiotic Gouda cheese was rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Blood tests were carried out to discover the effects of the probiotic bacteria contained within the cheese on the immune system.

In a CNN interview, Dr. Ibrahim said the results revealed a clear enhancement of natural and acquired immunity. "The aim of our study was to see if specific probiotic bacteria in cheese would have immune enhancing effects on healthy older individuals," He said. "We have demonstrated that the regular intake of probiotic cheese can help to boost the immune system and that including it in a regular diet may help to improve an elderly person's immune response to external challenges."

Say Cheeese

Eating Certain Cheeses Keeps Older Folks Healthy

Gretchen Heuring | ElderThink | 05.14.10

The newest news is that some cheeses can boost immune systems in older persons. Here's how it works.

The immune system deteriorates (along with other things) as we grow older. This age-related deterioration is called "immunosenescence" and effects our ability to fight disease. This means that we become more susceptible to infections (like the flu or a bladder infection) and we have more trouble fighting illness off when we get sick.

Some cheeses, yogurts, and milk carry something called "probiotic bacteria," called "probiotics" for short. Probiotics have long been known to boost the immune system. Now researchers have discovered that probiotics actually fight immunosenescence, the very thing that makes elders more susceptible to disease.

Aged cheeses made from raw milk carry probiotics developed during the fermentation process. Cheddar and Gouda are the best sources that are readily available, more aged is better. One slice, 3-4 ounces daily, can provide a big boost to your immune system.

Yogurts also carry probiotics but it's important to read the label because some yogurts sold these days have been pasturized, killing the good probiotic bacterias you need. The label should tell you if the yogurt contains live natural cultures.

Kefir is another aged milk-related product that develops probiotics. It's made from the whey leftover from churning butter.

And finally, food choices with probiotics many don't know about, are unpasturized sauerkraut, brine-cured olives, and sour pickles. Usually this type is found in the regrigerator section of the supermarket. Remember..unpasturized. The pasturizing process kills the probiotics.

Just in case you're bored...

Here's a time-lapse series of cheese maturing over a 9-month period.