The Role of Friendly Bacteria
We are exposed to numerous pollutants in our everyday lives: lead, mercury, cadmium (plus over 4500 toxic heavy metal by-products), drugs, vaccines and a host of other dangers are wreaking havoc in our bodies.
As our toxin levels rise, our immune system and other critical processes in our body become dangerously compromised and
begin to fail.
“Death begins in the colon”
Ilya Mechnikov – Nobel Laureate
The secret to good health lies in the friendly bacteria in
the intestinal tract.
Lactobacillus bacteria form a significant part of the natural intestinal flora. Large populations of this and other lactic acid producing
bacteria, regulate the levels of friendly bacteria and reduce the levels of toxic pathogens that cause ill health.
Lactic acid producing lactobacilli bacteria alter the pH of the large intestine, making it inhospitable to undesirable bacteria, moulds,
mold spores and yeast, particularly Candida. Putrefactive bacteria, which are potentially detrimental to good health and increase foul wind production, are inhibited by acidic conditions in the colon.
The presence of active bacteria in the gut can aid the digestive process by helping to break down foods. To attain the health benefits attributed to Lactobacilli fermented foods, live active bacteria need to be consumed on a regular basis. It is believed the life span in the human body of these cells are 3 to 10 days. Only the active forms have the ability to tolerate the acidity of the stomach and the alkalinity of the intestine to produce health benefits.
There is a lot of confusion in the marketplace in relation to the abundance or “count” of bacteria in various probiotic products.
Many companies are claiming that their products have “billions” more bacteria than other products to gain a marketing edge. This is very misleading for the consumer and, in reality, is little more than sales hype.
Bacteria live and work in colonies. In scientific terms these colonies are called, Colony-Forming Units (CFU’s). Some companies
intentionally shake the colonies apart, separating the CFU’s, to increase the bacteria count of their products, which is misleading
to consumers.
The reproduction ability of the bacteria in the gut is the single most important factor in a probiotic product.
The bacteria must be in their natural state and alive so that once they arrive in the gut they can multiply and produce all the sub-
strains necessary to maintain a healthy intestinal flora.
To ensure that the bacteria are in a natural organic state and have not been tampered with or altered in any way it should be certified organic.
Common warning signs of a bacterial imbalance:
• Allergies and food sensitivities
• Difficulty losing weight, sugar/carbohydrate craving
• Frequent fatigue, poor concentration
• Frequent constipation or diarrhea
• Faulty digestion, acid reflux and other gut disorders
• Sleeping poorly, night sweats
• Painful joint inflammation, stiffness
• Bad breath, gum disease and dental problems
• Frequent colds, flu or infections
• Chronic yeast problems
• Acne, eczema skin and foot fungus
• Extreme menstrual or menopausal symptoms
Research has shown that Lactobacilli bacteria:
• Reduce cholesterol in the blood.
• Increase nutrient assimilation, including calcium.
• Reduce high blood pressure.
• Assist in the elimination of ailments such as colon irritation,
constipation, diarrhea and acne.
• Retard yeast infections.
• Strengthen the immune system.
• Manufacture and assimilate B complex vitamins (which include
niacin, biotin, folic acid, riboflavin and B12).
• Help digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
• Produce natural anti-bacterial agents (antibiotics).
• Produce cancer or tumor suppressing compounds.
• Control the pH or acidity-alkaline levels in the intestines.
• Reduce unhealthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.
• Detoxify poisonous materials in the diet.
• Detoxify hazardous chemicals added to foods, such as nitrates.
Things that kill bacteria in the body:
Antibiotics
Birth control pills
Steroidal & hormonal drugs
Fluoride
Chlorine
Coffee/Tea
Carbonated drinks
Synthetic vitamins
Radiation
Stress
Preservatives
Additives
Pesticides
Fertilizers
An effective probiotic product should contain Lactobacilli bacteria that can:
- Maintain its high and active count through processing and storage unit consumption.
- Tolerate the acid conditions of the stomach.
- Tolerate bile salts.
- Increase its own numbers in the bowel and decrease the numbers of competing bacteria.
What if I think I am allergic to the ingredients?
Allergic reactions to grains are generally caused by:
- Compromised gut bacteria resulting in the body’s inability to break down the protein (gluten) in the wheat.
- A reaction to the synthetic chemicals used to grow the wheat.
In conclusion, look for a formula that has been pre-digested by the lactobacilli bacteria, so all the protein has already been broken down. In addition, make sure all of the ingredients are certified organic, eliminating the use of synthetic chemicals.
Source:
Lactobacillus Acidophilus. American Institute of Biosocial Research Inc. 1989
Lactobacillus feeding Alters Human Colonic Bacterial Activities. Nutritional Reviews Vol. 42 No.4 Nov 1984
Assimilation of Cholesterol by Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol 49 No.2,
Feb 1985.
Death Begins in the Colon. Dr Robert Chamberlain March. BS, MsT, RMT, ND.
Lactobacillus Bacteria: