The importance of probiotics while undergoing Lyme Disease treatment cannot be under estimated. The human microbiome is composed of trillions of different bacteria that live harmoniously and perform various necessary physiological functions, especially in the intestines. These bacteria have specific nutritional needs just as we do to sustain life. Additionally, endigenous bacteria generally do not cause disease, unless the bio-terrain is altered by other infectious organisms, antibiotics, or poor diet. In this case, your “garden” becomes a “garden of weeds.”
While antibiotics are necessary to eradicate Lyme Disease and co-infections in most patients, great care should be taken to maintain a healthy microbiome while undergoing treatment. A plant based diet low in carbohydrates and plenty of water keeps inflammation at a minimum so that the antibiotics can work optimally to kill the pathogenic organisms.
But make no mistake…this is risky business because antibiotics not only kill the bad organisms, they also kill the good ones. Therefore, high dose, diverse, probiotics should be taken along side antibiotic therapy without question. Some of these can include:
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus plantarum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
Saccharomyces boulardii
Additionally, pre-biotics in the form of FOS (fructooligosaccharides) may be necessary to balance the gut flora.
As you age, your gut microbiome becomes increasingly less able to optimally function. This gets exacerbated when you have multiple infections affecting the mucosal lining. Probiotic supplementation is a must for Lyme Disease patients, but is also necessary for healthy individuals as well. The importance of probiotics cannot be understated.