Researchers cite effectiveness of probiotics

You’ve heard of antibiotics, but what about probiotics? They are naturally occurring microbes that can live in the human gut and help fight disease. If some microbes are good, more must be better, right? Don’t be surprised if someone – say that friend who knows all the latest natural remedies — suggests you eat germs in order to stay healthy.

Yogurt, with its live lactic acid bacteria, is just the beginning. A growing number of companies are marketing edible germs in powder, tablet and liquid form.

And there is some reliable research supporting the use of probiotic preparations for fighting diarrhea.

A review of 23 research trials by the Cochrane Collaboration concludes that probiotic preparations based on lactic acid bacteria or some yeasts are moderately effective in easing infectious diarrhea. You can read a summary of the research at www.informedhealthonline.org.

Researchers also are experimenting with other disease-fighting germs, according to the July 22nd issue of The Scientist. But the article includes a cautionary note: The probiotics industry may be getting ahead of what the research actually says.

“There does seem to be lots of potential there, but it’s a very complicated area,” Australian nutritionist Rosemary Stanton told The Scientist. “I think it sounds good and I want to be a believer. But when you read the studies, they don’t match the headlines. The food industry is pushing to be able to make more health claims for these products, but, based on what we know so far, I think it would be foolish to allow that.”

Bottom line: Take your probiotics with a grain of salt.

Responsible gaming

The Camas Institute of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will host a workshop today through Thursday to discuss problem gambling.

It will be held at Gonzaga University Law School in the Barbieri Moot Court Room from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a one-hour lunch break.

The workshop is for counselors, social workers, psychologists, educators, tribal employees and others working on the issue of problem gambling. The fee is $195.

For information about the workshop and other training opportunities on problem gambling, contact the Camas Institute at (800) 561-7714.

Toy jewelry contains lead

Four toy importers are recalling 150 million pieces of children’s jewelry sold in vending machines. Some of the jewelry contains dangerous levels of lead.

Check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site at www.cpsc.gov for photos of the toy jewelry.