| According to A. Venket Rao of the University of | | | | and depression. It's breakthrough news for |
| Toronto, a recent study conducted on the impact | | | | sufferers of C.F.S., who in addition to persistent |
| of probiotics has opened the door to a whole new | | | | fatigue also often suffer from debilitating |
| field of study between the relationship of gut | | | | problems like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders |
| micro flora and many disorders, including mental | | | | and cognitive dysfunction. In fact, the results to |
| disorders. This is great news for people who | | | | date of this research which show that digestive |
| would rather not take medicines that can create | | | | bacteria levels may be linked to depression and |
| unwanted side effects and instead be able to | | | | anxiety indicate a possible source of new safe, |
| manage symptoms with easy and safe probiotics. | | | | help for millions of sufferers. |
| Commercially available probiotics include RGarden's | | | | In this study, the team gave 39 CFS patients |
| L. Salivarius and Inner Garden Flora. | | | | either Lactobacillus casei or a placebo on a daily |
| Fueled by years of treatment by doctors who | | | | basis over a two month period. They found that |
| routinely prescribe antibiotics as treatments for | | | | 73 per cent of those given the probiotic |
| far too many illnesses, the average person usually | | | | experienced an increase in levels of Lactobacillus |
| only associates internal bacteria as a bad thing, | | | | and Bifidobacteria in their gut, and also |
| but that is not the case. Our bodies - like our | | | | experienced a significant decrease in their anxiety |
| planet - are living, finely balanced eco-systems | | | | symptoms. Only 37.5 per cent of the placebo |
| that have been structured by nature with self | | | | group showed any increase of Bifidobacteria, while |
| regulating systems and one of them is the | | | | less than 44% showed an increase in Lactobacillus |
| necessary presence of good bacteria to ward off | | | | bacteria. And there was no significant change in |
| the more toxic and harmful bacteria that can build | | | | anxiety symptoms among the placebo group. |
| up and cause illness. | | | | Not at all surprising was the finding that the |
| Now, a new relationship between the presence of | | | | Chronic Fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients in this |
| good bacteria supported by Probiotic | | | | study who received daily probiotics supplements |
| supplementation and a decrease in the symptoms | | | | also showed big improvements in their |
| of depression, anxiety and associated mental | | | | gastrointestinal systems. Since many patients with |
| disorders is seen as "Huge" by the University | | | | CFS also suffer from these disorders including |
| research team. Good bacteria "produce | | | | such problems as irritable bowel syndrome, |
| compounds that get to the brain and help the | | | | improvements in inflammation, bloating and gas |
| brain to manage problems associated with | | | | are helpful results of taking probiotics. |
| behavioral and mood problems, such as anxiety | | | | |