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The body needs bacteria but having the right bacteria is what is important.  Beneficial bacteria is know as probiotics. Lactobacillus and bifodobacteria are good bacteria which basically keep the bad bacteria under control.  What we eat and supplement make a big difference to the balance of bacteria and hence our health.  Probiotics improve the absorption of manufacture vitamins, especially vitamins K, folic acid, and B12, calcium and other minerals, and important in healing a variety of digestive disorders.

Harmful bacteria can cause infection directly, or form toxic substance that contribute to cancer and inflammation, especially of the digestive tract.

Antibiotics destroy all bacteria, good as well as bad, and is best not to take at all unless absolutely necessary.

Benefits of Probiotics

• Boost resistance to infections
• Regulates hormones
• Improves digestion
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Elevates the immunity
• Helps relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Reduces the risk for certain cancers

To promote health and prevent disease eating fermented foods or taking probiotic supplements every day is a good idea.  People under constant stress and elders might want to highly consider this suggestion.  As we age the amount of colonic bacteria decreases and there have been animal studies showing probiotics helped reduce symptoms of stress.

Probiotics May Help:

• Inflammatory bowel problems such as colitis or Crohn’s disease
• After a course of antibiotics
• Infections, especially sore throats, candida, or bladder infections
• After surgery
• Stomach or bowel cancers
• Constipation or digestive disturbance, including indigestion
• Times of prolonged stress

Fermented Food Suggestions Are:

1. Miso, tofu tempeh, tamari
2. Wine (from grapes)
3. Sourdough bread (from wheat or rye)
4. Sauerkraut, pickles (from vegetables)
5. Yogurt, kefir (from dairy products), cottage cheese

Fructo-oligosaccharides, or FOS (also know as prebiotics) are foods that promote healthy bacteria.  Bananas are especially rich in FOS along with other fruits, garlic, onions, barley, wheat, and Jerusalem artichokes.

The best probiotic supplements also contain FOS for the bacteria to feed off, encouraging their multiplication.  FOS can also help relieve constipation.

The majority of gut bacteria exist in the colon, and stomach acid kills off a lot of bacteria.  To help more bacteria get through your system you can do the following:

• Supplement with FOS
• At least 100 million viable organisms should be supplemented
• Use spore-form lactobacillus supplements
• Supplement away from food
• Use enteric-coated supplements

Eating fruits and vegetables (fresh and living foods) are providing the body with minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics, essential vitamins, and phytochemicals promoting good health.  Just be aware, eating foods that can be picked out of the ground or plucked from a tree is beneficial, providing good health.

Reference:

The New Optimum Nutrition Bible; Patrick Holford

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