Friendly Bacteria—The unsung heroes of wellness |
Scientists predict that PRO-biotics will be as important in this
century as ANTI-biotics were in the last. Healthy by Nature
believes that they are correct. |
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This information is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not
intended to replace competent advice received from a knowledgeable
healthcare professional. You are urged to seek healthcare advice regarding
any illness. Copyright 2003 Healthy By Nature, LLC |
| What are probiotics? |
Probiotics (“pro” meaning “for” and “biotic” meaning “life”) are basically beneficial
bacteria. Along with a few other benign organisms they are known as “friendly flora”. As
you will see, these good guys not only perform dozens of important functions, but they
are actually essential to life. The healthy digestive tract is host to approximately 4 pounds
of organisms – there are actually more of them than our own cells – and there are as
many as 400 species of bacteria alone. Some probiotics are passed along at birth from
mom, we get some from fermented foods, but you will see why modern life forces us to
supplement. It is interesting to note that during the Civil War, when sauerkraut (a food
fermented by friendly bacteria) was a part of prisoners’ diets, the death rates from small
pox dropped from 90% to 5%. |
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Functions our own bacteria and the very finest supplemented probiotics
perform. CAUTION—understand that many products DO NOT DELIVER these
benefits (in alphabetical order): |
• Acid reflux, heartburn, GERD (helps the food digest so it does not ferment and bubble
up causing burning and helps control a bacteria, H. Pylori, that is one cause)
• Acne, psoriasis and eczema (help control)
• Allergy / food sensitivity (by keeping the gut lining healthy, substances that do not
belong in the blood stream are prevented from being absorbed and causing sensitivity)
• Antioxidant benefits (reduce free radicals)
• Arthritis, asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS (patients use to enhance quality of life)
• Bloating (stops the fermentation that causes gas)
• Bone density (two ways it helps: making vitamin K and by improving absorption of
minerals)
• Circulatory system (helps maintain healthy function)
• Cholesterol triglycerides (help maintain blood fats at healthy levels)
• Depression (the good bacteria release the amino acid, L-tryptophan, a natural
antidepressant)
• Diarrhea (fights and crowds out the harmful organisms that cause it)
• Digestion of foods (helps with fats, protein, carbs and even milk)
• Disease prevention (slow down the growth of pathogenic organisms)
• Energy (increases energy naturally)
• Essential Fats (the bacteria make them from fiber)
• Gum disease (gum disease is caused by harmful bacteria reduced by the good
bacteria)
• Glaucoma (helps prevent by controlling the bacteria H. Pylori)
• Immune system (boosts body’s natural ability to fight)
• Inflammatory bowel disease and colitis (eases in many ways, e.g. by reducing
inflammation and “leaky gut”)
• Intestinal lining (kept healthy by creation of substances to benefit cells of the lining)
• Liver function (reduces the load on the liver by detoxifying in the gut)
• Migraine (helps by suppressing H. Pylori bacteria that are also a cause of cluster
headaches.)
• Morning sickness (again caused in part by H. Pylori, so the good guys help control.)
• Oxygen uptake (improves it)
• PH (acid/alkaline balance maintained in healthy range)
• Rosacea (a red skin condition thought to be caused by H. Pylori a harmful bacteria
controlled by the friendly bugs.)
• Regularity (adds bulk to the stool and makes intestinal tract healthier and more alive)
• Sex hormones (help balance by detoxifying surplus hormones)
• Skin (helps maintain in radiant, healthy state)
• Toxic waste (helps reduce at the cellular level and avoids the re-absorption and
production of new toxins by reducing constipation)
• Ulcers (suppress the bacteria H. Pylori that cause the ulcers)
• Urinary tract / vaginal infections (fights and crowds out the harmful organisms—the
root cause)
• Vitamins (probiotics actually manufacture many vitamins = A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, K
and Biotin. Vitamin K is important for strong bones)
• Yeasts (protect against the overgrowth of organisms like Candida that cause dozens of
symptoms) |
Again, this is what friendly flora are supposed to do, but most supplemental products
don’t deliver the benefits because they are not the correct blend of strains and/or are not
made with enough care. I’ve tested products that had 0 (zero) bacteria alive! Healthy
by Nature selected Dr. Ohhira’s 12+ from Essential Formulas as a sponsor because
it meets our high standards. You can’t find a more scientifically-researched or better-
manufactured product. Learn more about this remarkable product.
Given the impressive list of probiotic functions, it is no wonder that when medications
and/or lifestyle problems kill too many of these friendly teammates, bad things start to
happen. A healthful balance is 85% good guys and only 15% harmful. If the colonies
become imbalanced in favor of harmful, the condition is known as Dysbiosis and can
lead to illness and even death. |
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Dysbiosis causes, aggravates or is at least associated with the following
conditions: |
ADD/ADHD |
Allergies |
Asthma |
Autoimmune difficulties |
Candida yeast infestation |
Cholesterol Levels, high |
Colitis |
Constipation |
Crohn's Disease |
Cystic Fibrosis |
Depression |
Diabetes |
Diarrhea |
Digestive upsets of all kinds |
Diverticulosis |
Epstein-Barr |
Fatigue |
Food Poisoning |
Gastritis |
Headaches |
Heartburn |
Hepatitis B & C |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS) |
Joint pain |
Kidney Disease |
Leukemia |
Liver Diseases |
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) |
Osteoporosis |
Poor nutrient assimilation |
Sinus infections, chronic |
Skin problems |
Sleep disturbance |
Spastic Colon |
Systemic Yeast |
Thrush (white coating on the tongue) |
Vaginal yeast infections |
A factor in even very grave diseases such as AIDS and cancer |
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Warning signs of “Dysbiosis” (alphabetical)—one or more of these might
indicate intestinal imbalance |
• Acne, eczema, skin & foot problems
• Allergies and chronic food sensitivities
• Bad breath and gum disease
• Chronic unexplained fatigue
• Chronic yeast problems and Candida albicans overgrowth
• Difficulty losing weight
• Faulty digestion including acid reflux
• Frequent colds, flu and infections
• Frequent constipation or diarrhea
• Joint pain/inflammation
• Peptic ulcers
• Poor sleep habits, including nightmares
• Extreme menstrual or menopausal symptoms |
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With so much at stake, it is obviously critical to assure that the friendly bacteria
are in control. These are factors that upset the balance of intestinal flora and
cause Dysbiosis: |
• Antibiotic medications (the drugs do not select only harmful bacteria to kill—they kill
them all, especially the broad-spectrum variety). Antibiotic residues in meat and dairy
products (e.g. foods that are not organic) are also a threat.
• Chlorinated/fluoridated water (chlorine is in water to kill bacteria and is not selective.)
• Diets high in sugar and other simple carbohydrates. These junk foods feed and
strengthen the undesirable element in the gut.
• Estrogen replacement therapy
• Excessive fiber (strips the colon of micro flora)
• Exposure to radiation (CAT scan, excessive dental and medical x-rays)
• Heavy use of even natural antiseptic agents like Echinacea, barberry, goldenseal &
colloidal silver
• Oral Contraceptives (birth control pills are hormones)
• Parasites (from traveling or just eating food not properly washed and cooked)
• Poor digestion (do we really know the effect of acid blockers?) and constipation
(creates a toxic environment for good bugs.)
• Steroids (yes, even the anti-inflammatory ones the doctor prescribes)
• Stress (the chronic kind)
• Toxic chemical intake (our everyday life has many) |
Especially during and after taking an anti-biotic it is extremely important to replenish the
good guys before the bad guys get too comfortable. To do this effectively requires a high
quality product that meets the criteria below. Yes, you can take probiotics while on an
antibiotic—just allow 2 hours between them. |
| What to do when warning signs of Dysbiosis are present |
• REST the GI tract – cut out the starches and sugars that yeasts love and replace those
carbohydrates with vegetables. Drink large amounts of water.
• CLEANSE the colon with a quality oral colon cleanse product or visit an experienced
colon therapist.
• REBALANCE bacteria – Flood the colon with high quality probiotics during this
whole process
• CONTINUE to use a high quality probiotic to maintain sufficient levels of good
bacteria in the colon and to enhance your immune system so it can finish the job of
eliminating the bad guys. |
| How to choose the most effective probiotic product: |
• Must deliver the flora alive. Expect the product to be shelf stable without refrigeration
for up to 3 years. With a refrigerated product you really have no idea how carefully it
has been handled along the delivery route or what effect you have on it when you take it
in and out of the refrigerator attracting moisture. Blister packs are ideal and travel well.
• The vigor of the bacteria is much more important than the count. A product can list
ridiculously high counts, but if the bugs (e.g. freeze dried types) don’t arrive alive or
can’t be reawakened, or are weak, what’s the point? You want critters that will thrive
and in most cases adhere to the digestive tract. It is better to avoid freeze-dried
products.
• The species must be proven to be useful and natural to humans. If the species a
company uses does not meet this test, no amount of marketing hype will make up for it.
Some products, e.g. some made from organisms in the soil, indeed create a big effect –
they often cause diarrhea. This isn’t surprising because that is how the body gets rid of
things it doesn’t like—it flushes them.
• Look for a blend of many beneficial lactic acid bacteria strains. Each strain has its own
unique benefits. Ideally you want organisms that fight the deadly smart bugs, protecting
the body against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, H. pylori, E. coli and the
other bacteria that cause food poisoning. See the examples below
• The form of the product should protect the bacteria until they get to the lower intestine.
“Enteric coating” keeps digestive juices from destroying the bacteria before they get to
the right place.
• For best results the product should contain the nutritional medium in which culture was
grown to provide a stable growth base. (The bacteria might not like what you had for
dinner.) Dr. Ohhira’s 12 + has a unique culture medium of 92 organic herbs, sea weeds
and other non-dairy foods.
• Should be milk-free and hypoallergenic.
• Should have guarantee of colony forming units (CFU) of at least 1 to 1.5 billion per
gram
• Must be well-researched for safety and efficacy with both in-vivo (human) and in vitro
(laboratory) scientific studies—not just stories, actual scientific tests
• Should contain robust naturally-occurring organic acids—these are necessary to
correct and maintain the proper “acidic” pH environment in the colon. After all, the good
guys are called “Lactic Acid Bacteria” and a pH level of 5.2 to 6.5 is essential for their
proliferation and adhesion.
• Best if supported with natural-occurring fructooligosaccharides (FOS) -- a pre-biotic
nutrient important to the health and long life of LAB
• Quality assurance factors to insist on: Although the real art of fermentation is ancient,
the manufacturing facility should be state of the art with the highest standards of quality
that are analyzed by third-party authorities
• Other qualities to look for: Non-GMO; free of chemicals, preservatives and artificial
additives; Totally vegan, including the capsule material
• Ideally contains naturally developed micronutrient by-products like amino acids,
hydrogen peroxide, enzymes and bacteriocins and anti-fungals (one way the good guys
fight the bad guys)
• MOST IMPORTANTLY—IT MUST WORK! |
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An example of an ideal blend of friendly bacterial strains and some of their
roles: |
1. TH10, Enterococcus faecalis – World Champion Strain controls H. Pylori, E. Coli
and antibiotic resistant bacteria that are a growing menace
2. B. breve – Aids in the prevention of diarrhea and in the production and promotion of
natural antibodies
2. B. infantis – Protects against inflammation of the bowels and stomach; fights E. coli
3. B. longum – Helps to eliminate cancer-causing nitrates in foods
4. L. acidophilus – Neutralizes chronic yeast infections, campylobacter, and various flu’s, while helping to lower cholesterol levels
5. L. brevis – Helps produce natural antibiotics and promotes cellular immune activities
6. L. bulgaricus – Transient bacteria helps alleviate digestive problems, herpes and acid
reflux
7. L. casei – Protects against deadly Listeria bacteria; inhibits activity in tumor cells
8. L. fermentum – Builds immune system and promotes mitogen activation
9. L. helveticus – Promotes anti-tumor activity
10. L. plantarum – Blocks receptor sites for gram-negative bacteria and produces
natural antibodies
11. S. thermophilus – Produces anti-tumor activity in colon cancer cell growth and the
antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase |
Our friendly flora is critical to life, so learn to appreciate the little critters. Avoid
unnecessary threats to their health and replenish their ranks with only the highest quality
probiotic products. |
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