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PROBIOTICS: THE MEANING OF
LIFE
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
Digestion of our food is one
of the most important functions of the human body. Good
quality nourishing food is the first step to good health
but what happens to our food once it is swallowed? Most of
us don’t have any idea of the numerous processes the body
performs in breaking down food for energy. Digestion is
fascinating and too large for this article. This article
will help you understand the process of food breakdown with
the aid of microorganisms we call
probiotic (for life) bacteria.
Let’s look into these
bacteria and see how they work and how it affects our
overall health. We are a walking ecosystem; in fact we are
home to trillions of bacteria. Some of them are pathogenic
(harmful) but the majority are beneficial or
probiotic.
Probiotic bacteria in the intestines help digest
food, create vitamins and
inhibit the growth of disease causing bacteria. Throughout
history traditional cultures have eaten a diet rich in
fermented or cultured foods, which has provided the body
with these beneficial bacteria. Some of these foods are
yogurt, miso,
tempeh, sauerkraut, and
buttermilk for examples. With the
s.a.d. (standard
american diet) which is
highly refined most of us no longer get these bacteria in
our diet.
When we talk about bacteria
most of us think of them in a negative fashion so what are
these beneficial microorganisms? There are between 400-500
different species of bacteria ( at
least 17 families and 50 different genera). All areas of
the gastro intestinal tract are home to these bacteria.
These bacteria aid in the breakdown of our food once it
enters the small intestines. The main beneficial species
found in the body are lactobacillus acidophilus, l.
Bifidus, l.
Casei, l.
Plantarum, l. Rhamnosus,
bifidobacterium
bifidum and streptococcus
faecium. The bacteria
lactobacillus acidophilus,
L.bifidus,bifidobacterium
bifidum and streptococcus
faecium have been the subject
of numerous studies since 1921.
What are some of the
benefits of these microorganisms? The benefits below are
the results of the studies, but some are still being
researched.
·
Boosting
the immune system- specific bacteria (l.
Bifidus and s.
Thermophilus) have shown to
improve immune cells fight disease causing bacteria in the
intestines.
·
Inhibit the
growth of pathogenic organisms- this happens by
sucessfully combining with
available nutrients and by producing antibiotic chemicals
such as bacteriocins, which
kill certain species of bacteria.
·
Prevent
diarrhea from various causes- numerous studies show that
adding acidophilus to milk increases digestibility and
decreases gas and bloating.
·
Reducing
the risk of inflammatory bowel disease- there is a
suspected link between unhealthy flora and colitis and
Chrohn’s disease.
·
Improving
digestion of proteins and fats-
probiotics increase the absorption of these foods.
·
Aiding
vitamin synthesis- it is known that intestinal bacteria can
synthesize vitamins b1, b2, b6, b12, folic acid and biotin
and others.
·
Detox and
protect us from toxins-known to detox ammonia bi product of
nitrogen based (red meats)
foods, the breakdown of cholesterol, and helps the body to
breakdown hormones.
·
Provide
energy for the intestinal lining- the mucosal cell lining
of the colon derive 70% of their energy from fatty acids
produced as a by product of bacterial action.
·
Maintain
proper mucus levels in the intestines. - Help regulate the
mucus in the intestines. When the mucus level gets too
thick nutrient absorption can be impaired.
So where do these
microorganisms come from and how do they get into our
bodies?
At birth we become
inoculated with micro flora as we pass through the birth
canal. Breastfeeding provides the next level of
inoculation, which creates the simple flora called bifid
bacteria, a genus that produces lactic acid. Bottle fed
infants have difficulty getting these beneficial bacteria
and there is a possible link between allergies and infant
nutrition and micro flora.
The micro flora of the
intestines is very delicate. There are numerous substances
and medications that destroy them. The overuse of
antibiotics has created numerous intestinal problems from
constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and possibly
inflammatory bowel diseases. Antibiotics do not
discriminate between good and bad bacteria. Yes antibiotics
are lifesaving and have a place for short-term use but when
long-term use persists digestive problems prevail. Many
bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and stronger ones
have to be used. Many pathogenic bacteria mutate so the
antibiotic becomes ineffective. Remember antibiotics kill
bacteria and have no effect on viruses. It is important
that if you take an antibiotic to follow up when your
treatment is done to use an acidophilus supplement or eat
more live culture yogurt. One other problem is the overuse
of antibiotics in animals with people eating them getting
residues in the
animal tissue or by product.
Some other issues that
destroy our micro flora are:
1.
Chlorinated
and other bactericidal chemicals used in drinking water.
2.
Pesticide
and herbicide residue on fruits and vegetables.
3.
Excessive
consumptions of sugar, fat, red meat, and refined foods.
4.
Excessive
consumption of raw vegetables.
5.
Alcoholic
beverages can inhibit implantation of
probiotics.
The following are some of
the conditions which supplementing
probiotics can be beneficial:
So how do I choose a good
probiotic supplement? This is a
tough question because there are many forms on the market.
The following are some guidelines to help you determine if
what you are using is beneficial.
First the ph of the
intestines is important for the life of these
probiotics. The body ph should
be in the range of between 4-6 just
slightly acidic. If below 3-4 ph level the organisms
will not thrive. As a matter of fact many are destroyed in
the stomach before they reach the lower intestines. Special
enteric-coated capsules allow for passage through the
stomach and open further in the intestinal tract. If you
are taking a supplement or eating plain live culture yogurt
it is best to have it early in the day with some fruit or
by itself before meals.
·
The
supplement should have been refrigerated from the time of
manufacture, shipment and storage.
·
The
supplement should list the activity level of the organisms.
Example is that in one gram (1000mg) will provide between
6-10 billion bacteria. This is considered a therapeutic
level.
·
The date of
manufacture, the base, used (lactose or non dairy), the
species present and potency are all factors to consider
when choosing a supplement.
It is important to assess
one lifestyle when it comes to deciding if you need to
supplement with probiotics.
They are safe and effective but it is important to also
look at your diet and try to add more wholesome forms of
natural beneficial bacteria. Study the traditional food s
that provide them and experiment by eating them. Some of
the benefits of eating traditional fermented food are:
·
They
increase the digestibility of protein and other nutrients.
·
They reduce
the risk of illness due to contamination by pathogenic
organisms.
·
Enhance the
odor and flavor of food.
·
Increase
levels of important nutrients like b 12
Here is a list of some
traditional fermented foods: sour milk, poi, cottage
cheese, yogurt, koji, natural
soy sauce, buttermilk, sauerkraut, soy
tempeh, raw vinegar, and kefir.
Every culture around the
world has used fermented foods in their diet.
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