Lactobaccilus reuteri — a natural bacteria resident of the human gut may protect the intestinal lining from infection by the foodborne bacterial pathogen Salmonella (a common form of food poisoning).
While many bacteria exist as aggressive pathogens, causing diseases ranging from tuberculosis and cholera, to plague, diphtheria and toxic shock syndrome, others play a critical role in human health.
A swarm of some hundred trillion bacteria occupies the human body, outnumbering human cells by about 10 to 1. Among these are members of the genus Lactobacilli, some of which have been associated with therapeutic, probiotic properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity.
Lactobacillus reuteri is one of the more than 180 species of Lactobacilli.
As someone who has had salmonella food poisoning I can vouch for its typical symptoms.
Intestinal infections by non-typhoidal Salmonella strains induce diarrhea and gastroenteritis, and remain a leading source of foodborne illness worldwide. Such infections are acutely unpleasant but self-limiting in healthy individuals. For those with compromised immunity however, they can be deadly and the alarming incidence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella strains has underlined the necessity of more effective therapeutics.
Yogurt is often considered a good source of probiotic, friendly bacteria – and I agree. But read your yogurt label and you’re not likely to find this specific strain of bacteria in it. This doesn’t mean you should stop eating yogurt. The bottom line is much more research is needed to identify all the positive properties of the bacteria your yogurt does provide.
In the mean time you can do a Google search and you’ll find some dietary supplements containing this specific strain of friendly bacteria.
Source: Science Daily
In health,
David Greenwalt