Beginning as a light colored spot under the tip of the toenail, 
toenail fungus can continue to spread until the entire toenail 
becomes thick and yellow with crumbling edges. If no treatment is 
given to destroy the fungus, the fungus will continue to grow and 
eventually the toenail will have a distorted shape, the color may 
become green, brown, or black. If allowed to grow unchecked the 
fungus will deteriorate the condition of the toenail and a foul 
odor will be present. At this point the nail may become 
completely detached from the toe and there may be some 
significant pain in the toe itself.

Also referred to as onychomycosis, toenail fungus is an extremely 
common condition that, if left untreated, can become quite 
unsightly and painful. Fortunately, toenail fungus does not have 
to be accepted as a distasteful part of life. There are many 
treatments available to eradicate the fungus that causes this 
unpleasant condition. One of the most effective steps that can be 
taken to alleviate toenail fungus as well as ensure it does not 
return is to incorporate probiotics into your daily health 
regimen.

Probiotics are the beneficial organisms that naturally occur in 
your body, maintaining a healthy balance in the digestive tract 
and contributing to the health and strength of the immune system 
and the body as a whole. When the delicate balance of organisms 
in the body is upset, any number of health problems may surface. 
The necessary "good" bacteria in your system must remain at high 
enough levels to counter the growth of other potentially 
dangerous bacteria, yeast and fungus.

Due to both internal and environmental factors, such as stress, 
disease and the use of antibiotics, the healthy bacteria 
population can decrease, causing an imbalance. This imbalance can 
result in a multitude of health issues. These difficulties 
include gas, bloating and other intestinal problems. One such 
problem that can be caused by a lack of good bacteria is a fungal 
infection of the toenail.

Also referred to as onychomycosis, toenail fungus is responsible 
for nearly half of all toenail disorders. The condition begins as 
a light colored spot under the tip of the toenail, but if left 
untreated this fungus will continue to spread until the entire 
toenail becomes thick and yellow. Often the edges of the toenail 
will become brittle and crumble.

If the fungus is not destroyed, the condition will worsen and 
eventually the toenail will have a distorted shape, the color may 
become green, brown, or black, and a foul odor may become 
evident. At this point the nail may fall off and there may be 
pain in the toe itself.

Although many people choose to accept the presence of this 
unnecessary condition, there are many treatments available to 
eradicate the fungus that causes it. It is important, however, to 
also treat the underlying imbalance that may have led to the 
infection. Probiotics offer an effective way to restore the 
subtle balance of bacteria in your body and lower your risk of 
contracting toenail fungus.

Although there are some foods that contain an amount of 
probiotics, such as yogurt, miso, tempeh and some cheeses, it is 
difficult to know just how much each of these items will 
contribute to the overall levels of healthy bacteria in the body. 
Therefore, in most cases, it is wisest to use a probiotic 
supplement, usually in a pill form, to see that ample amounts of 
the good bacteria reach the digestive system.  However, when 
purchasing a probiotic supplement, it is important to make an 
educated decision regarding which is best suited to your needs.

There are both dairy and non-dairy versions of this probiotic and 
both types should be refrigerated. Some types are made with an 
exceptionally tough coating to ensure that the probiotics make it 
past the powerful stomach acids to the intestines. There are also 
many strains of microbes called probiotics; however, studies have 
shown that the most beneficial type to return the amount of 
bacteria in the system to a healthy level is Lactobacillus 
Acidophilus. This microbe prevents supports the digestion of 
proteins, lowers blood cholesterol, aids in digestion, and most 
importantly, reduces fungal infections. This supplement should 
not be taken with antibiotics; however, it is suggested that 
after a regimen of antibiotics L. Acidophilus should be used to 
return the healthy bacteria to the system.

Additional factors that put you at risk for a fungal infection 
are cigarette smoking, diabetes, and working in an environment 
that causes continual sweating. In addition to these precautions, 
maintaining a healthy diet and limiting the use of antibiotics 
will encourage a balanced level of beneficial and harmful 
bacteria in the body and control the occurrence and severity of 
toenail fungus. Because fungus is only able to grow if your 
immune system is not strong enough to fight it, take steps to see 
that your immune system is healthy by eating well, getting enough 
rest, and exercising. 

Dr. Jonathan N. Group, B.S., R.D., D.C. is a Doctor of 
Chiropractic, Registered Dietitian and Independent Research 
Scientist. He has over 15 years of educational and research 
experience in health care focusing in clinical nutrition, 
alternative medicine, chiropractic, fitness, health and wellness. 
Dr. Group is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Fungus 
Research, L.L.C. and heads the research and development team 
dedicated to producing advanced, new anti-fungal and 
anti-microbial products. http://www.nail-fungus-toenail.com