beneficial bacteria

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Probiotics and Beneficial Bacteria

Researchers estimate that more than 400 species of bacteria inhabit the digestive tract. Some of these are the pathogenic, or disease-producing, bacteria. But other species are considered “friendly” bacteria. To an extent, digestive tract health depends on the condition of the friendly bacteria and the control they exert over the less friendly, pathogenic variety.

Friendly bacteria are often referred to as probiotics for their multiple, interacting benefits. Some probiotics, such as bifidobacteria can thrive only in oxygen-free environments. Others, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, require small amounts of oxygen and are known as microaerophilic organisms. As a result, friendly bacteria have the potential to play several roles.

Friendly bacteria produce acetic, lactic and formic acids which lower the pH in the intestine, thereby inhibiting growth of undesirable bacteria and enhancing the nutritional status by helping to digest food and manufacture essential vitamins.

Probiotics help us to:

• Strengthen the immune system

• Guard against cancer

• Combat yeast overgrowth and fungal infections such as Candida Albicans

• Prevent constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and bloating

• Protect against osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Overcome skin problems

• Lower cholesterol levels

• Enhance nutritional status

Research has shown that probiotics help prevent the growth of 'unfriendly' bacteria (pathogens) in the gut.

The various strains of bacteria include the popular lactobacillus acidophilus, which have the ability to break down sugar molecules, such as lactose (the sugar naturally found in milk). They produce lactic acid as a by-product of this sugar breakdown.

It is the lactic acid which prevents the build up of the harmful pathogenic bacteria. The reason for this is simple. All bacteria need optimal conditions before they can grow and multiply, and one of the most important conditions is the correct pH of the environment in which they are trying to live.

The lactic acid lowers the pH (makes it more acidic), and the pathogenic bacteria cannot thrive in this acidic environment.

If these friendly bacteria were not present in the gut in sufficient quantity, then unfriendly bacteria, fungi and viruses would be allowed to grow and populate the intestines. This would cause a variety of conditions such as candida, lowered immune function, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, and, according to recent studies, even autism.

For these reasons, it is imperative that a baby's gut is populated by friendly bacteria from the beginning, in order to help prevent such conditions. Newborn babies' intestines are sterile, and the first contact the baby has with bacteria is via the mother when it passes along the birth canal.

Therefore, if the mother's bacteria balance is compromised, then any unfriendly bacteria and toxins will be passed to the baby.

For this reason, it is important, if at all possible that the mother breast feed the baby for at least six months (and this isn't always possible for a variety of reasons). In these ideal conditions the harmful bacteria which cause the conditions mentioned above, will not be able to thrive in the gut.

If it is not possible to breast feed for at least six months (or in the unhappy event that the baby needs to be given antibiotic treatment), then it is imperative that the baby be given probiotic in supplement form.

Why Probiotics can help you on holiday.

Montezuma's Revenge or whatever else we may from time to time choose to call it, is, in effect, traveller’s diarrhoea and nausea - and a debilitating affliction it is too.  Holidays abroad were never intended to be restricted to the well-worn trail between the toilet and the bed and yet that is precisely what they become for many people; so instead of resting and relaxing, your body becomes a biological battleground between the pesky pathogenic attackers (the bad guys) and the good guys (whatever defences your system might have accumulated).  

You might be surprised to learn that Montezuma typically affects 35% of all international travellers and on average lasts for three or four days. That’s a pretty large chunk out of your precious holiday; you’d think we’d take all possible steps to avoid it but the reality is that most people don't know how to. You probably arm yourself with copious supplies of anti-diarrhoea pills. Handy to have but, to use our battleground analogy, hardly a weapon designed to attack the problem - more a way (if this particular analogy is not perhaps a touch too near the truth), to stick a finger in the dam!  We don't use it until we've already been attacked.

Most of us know to avoid drinking the local water, so we drink bottled water and even clean our teeth with it. We even avoid ice in our drinks and, conscious of the fact that we tend to drink more alcohol whilst on holiday, which will dehydrate us even more than usual in a probably hotter climate, we remember to drink plenty of fluid.  The mistake though, is to put all these problems down to poor hygiene.  It is not. By conditioning ourselves against what we might experience on holiday we are, in effect, laying down our defensive hordes. Who now would go on holiday without the appropriate sun protection? We must also take the appropriate protection for our stomachs and create an environment which is simply too inhospitable for the pesky bad guys to survive in.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus and bifidobacterium are probiotics that, amongst other qualities, possess the ability to lower the pH of the intestines to a point that is far too acidic for many pesky pathogens to survive. In theory, Live Yoghurts possess similar qualities but unfortunately are far too low in ammunition to count and represent nothing more than the waving of a peashooter at our attackers' heavy artillery.

Grapefruit seed extract has the unique ability to safely and effectively eliminate a wide array of potentially harmful disease causing pathogens too. Grapefruit seed extract (found in Higher Nature's Citricidal and BioCare's Biocidin) effectively kills fungi, parasites, viruses and bacteria.  It has been proven to be many times more effective against microorganisms than Chlorine Bleach - and yet we can consume it in effective, non-harmful doses.

These probiotic and grapefruit products will undoubtedly help protect you (though we wouldn't for one moment recommend you NOT to take your anti-diarrhoea tablets too). The old adage, "if you can't cook it, boil it or peel it, then forget it!" still applies and could help prevent many common illnesses associated with international travel. Even ice cubes can cause infection, and only bottled water should be used for brushing teeth and drinking unless you are absolutely confident about the local water.

AquaSource Bifidus Bacteria + Algae vegicaps
AquaSource health Supplements - Acidophilus + Algae vegicaps
BioCare (for infants) Bifidobacterium infantis (INT B1)
BioCare Bio-acidophilus Forte - 24 billion
BioCare Bio-acidophilus Special Offer - 8 billion probiotic organisms per capsule
Biocare Cervagyn (Vaginal Cream)
BioCare FloraGuardTM
Biocare Gingerdophilus - for digestive health
BioCare Lactobacillus bulgaricus (probiotic)
BioCare Yeastguard - vaginal probiotic pessaries
Flora Udo's Choice Adults Blend Probiotics - a blend of 8 probiotics for adults
Flora Udo's Choice Children's Blend Probiotic (age 5-15 years)
Flora Udo's Choice Infants Probiotic - 7 strains of probiotic for infants health
Flora Udo's Choice Super 5 Probiotic Lozenge
Higher Nature ColoClear Extra, with friendly bacteria
Nutri Enterogenic Concentrate FOS Probiotic Formula
Nutriscene NS10 Bifido-acidophilus
Udo's Choice Super 8 Probiotic Supplements