Probiotics: As Crucial as It Gets to YOUR Good Health

Probiotics are health-enhancing bacteria that replenish the microflora in your intestinal track, helping your body to digest and absorb food, as well as fight off many different illnesses and disease.

While the subject has received little recognition by Western medical professionals, the health benefits of probiotics have been known for at least 100 years.  Studies have shown that probiotics are effective for the control of:

• Inflammatory bowel disease,
• Vaginal yeast infections,
• Food and skin allergies in children,
• Premature labor in pregnant women,
• Recurrent ear and bladder infections,
• Chronic diarrhea

… and more! 

If you are successfully able to change your diet, so you are truly eating properly, day in and day out, the need for probiotics decreases, as it is somewhat similar to planting a garden.  If you have plenty of healthy plants, there is no room for the weeds to grow.  However, if you do indulge in sugar or grains, become sick or take antibiotics, then it is wise to continue routinely taking a healthy, high-quality probiotic.

So, if you are still wondering why I feel so strongly about probiotics, then please consider this: Some scientists estimate from 6 to 60 trillion actual bacteria may exist in your gut — that's 3 to 4 pounds of bacteria — with more than 400 different kinds of bacteria living in your gastro-intestinal tract.

In light of this, it's certainly not a stretch to attribute the reason why you may be feeling ill to an abundance of bad bacteria in your gut.  Some experts even believe this may be one of the main reasons why people come down with many chronic illnesses in the first place!

Now consider one more staggering fact: The typical American consumes as many 175 pounds of sugar per year!  When you make poor food choices that include sugars, grains, artificial sweeteners and other chemical toxins, you feed the "bad" bacteria, which are more likely to cause disease, rather than promoting the "good" bacteria that help protect you from disease.

 

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Research now suggests that giving pregnant women and newborns doses of "good" bacteria may help prevent childhood allergies. 

Allergy experts say probiotics offer the first good evidence that harmless bacteria can train infants' immune systems to resist allergic reactions.

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However, you can't run out and buy just any probiotic product off the shelf and expect to see good results.  Not every product that claims to be a "probiotic" actually contains the number of bacteria (or even the type of bacteria) associated with this claim.  A Belgian study found that one-third of probiotic products tested — including the widely trusted and popular acidophilus — did not provide any of the promised benefits!

Total health begins in your gut, so if your GI tract is not in optimal health, then your overall health will be compromised.  And, when it comes to your health, the proactive approach is always the way to go.

Chronic and degenerative diseases — many of which haven't been heard of before — are increasing at alarming rates in America, and we'd be foolish not to question the most obvious reason for this — our diets.

Your GI tract ideally contains 85% good bacteria and just 15% bad bacteria.  Unfortunately, most of us in the western world have eaten foods that cause this ratio to actually reverse!  If Americans were eating truly healthy diets, it would generally be possible to maintain a healthy bacterial balance in the gut, without the use of probiotics.  However, as I mentioned above, most diets are so dependent on sugars and grains, that nearly everyone can benefit from probiotics.  Here is just a partial list of symptoms that can often result from an imbalance of bacteria in the intestinal tract:

• Gas, bloating and indigestion
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Diarrhea and/or constipation
• Skin problems, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis
• Bad breath and body odor
• Delayed development in children
• Candida yeast infections
• High cholesterol levels
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
• Frequent colds and flu

Let's face it: Few, if any of us, can honestly say that we have perfect diets.  And just like your lawn, it is wise to "reseed" areas that have become barren for one reason or another.

Here's a classic "catch-22":

Your doctor prescribes an antibiotic for you to take when you are sick, when your immune system is weakened.  However, the antibiotics you get from your pharmacy are, for the most part, mycotoxins, which have been shown to be immunosuppressants, that will further weaken your immune system by destroying the friendly bacteria guarding your intestines!  In fact, every time you swallow antibiotics, you kill large numbers of beneficial bacteria in your intestine, upsetting the delicate balance in your intestinal tract.  And, these friendly bacteria can be quickly replaced by hostile bacteria, including Candida yeast, a powerful member of the fungi family, and bad anaerobic bacteria.

As your intestinal bacteria die, yeasts can thrive, and even use their tendrils to literally poke holes through the lining of your intestinal wall, resulting in a syndrome called leaky gut.  And, yeasts are not the only possible cause of this syndrome.  Some scientists have linked non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as naproxen and ibuprofen to the problem, as well.

More recently, scientists presented findings that linked antibiotics with allergies and asthma.  Researchers concluded the changes to both the growth of bacteria and fungi within the GI tract from antibiotics disrupted the function of your regulatory T cells to lessen the immune system reaction to respiratory allergens.  So, it's important to remember that, while your antibiotic may save you from one problem, it may cause a host of other problems. 

There is a common misconception that you should wait until you are finished with your antibiotic to start taking probiotics.  Even though the antibiotic is killing the good bacteria, that's exactly when you need it the most!

You should also be aware that, even if you careful to avoid antibiotic prescriptions, you still might be taking them with every bite of beef you eat.  That's because more antibiotics, per pound, are used on livestock than in human medicine.  Nearly every restaurant uses factory farmed beef that are exposed to these antibiotics, so even if you avoid them at home, you will likely be exposed when you eat away from home.

By simply taking an occasional probiotic, not only will you decrease your risk of developing allergies and asthma, but also you will strengthen your immune system, helping you to avoid a need for antibiotics in the first place!

The following are some common strains of probiotic microorganisms.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus: two strains that are a necessary inhabitants of your intestinal tract.  The beneficial properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus are synthesis of B vitamins, production of the natural antibiotic Acidophilin and inhibition of the growth of pathological bacteria.
• Lactobacillus Casei: The most potent of all lactobacillus strains, this natural producer of lactic acid aids in the digestion of a wide range of carbohydrates and other nutrients.
• Bifidobacterium longum: A potent body cleanser and strengthener of the immune system, that may also help normalize cholesterol levels.
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus: A natural producer of lactic acid and has strong natural antibiotic properties, and is a powerful immune system enhancer.
• Streptococcus thermophilus: Often used in yogurt and kefir, it possesses anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties, helps the digestion of milk sugar and possesses natural antibiotic properties.