My Morning Cereal is Helping My Immune System

Recently I noticed that my cereal box looked different. It now includes probiotics. I thought that was a nice touch. What has always been in my yogurt is now in my cereal. While I know Probiotics, which are dietary supplements of live bacteria or yeasts, were good for me, I didn't really know the extent of the health benefit they provide.

In a recent article in Health Magazine a study involving 360 people over age 60 who used daily supplements of L. casei DN-114001 were able to cut the duration of respiratory infections by one and a half days and the severity by 20%.

But it's not just that group that is seeing benefits from probiotics. Turns out children given L. rhamnosus GG reduced both stay-at-home sick days and the number of infections serious enough to require antibiotics. A further study (done in winter) with preschoolers, showed the third strain (L. acidophilus NCFM) reduced the incidence of fever by 48%, cough by 42%, and antibiotic use by 68%.

The article pointed out that researchers think similar benefits may be enjoyed by all age groups.

All in a cereal package!