Probiotics (Friendly
Bacteria)
The word "probiotic", which is used
to refer to friendly bacteria, comes from two Greek words
meaning "for life." In stark contrast "antibiotic" means
"against life."1 Maintaining
and promoting the growth of friendly bacteria, while
destroying the harmful strains, is vital to health. If harmful
bacteria grow in too great a proportion, serious consequences
can arise.
Most of us are unfamiliar with the
benefits of probiotics and the danger we put ourselves in when
we fail to take advantage of those benefits.
Probiotics are living organisms—also
known as friendly bacteria or flora—that colonize and flourish
in the healthy intestine. These friendly bacteria are vital to
health and to the proper functioning of the intestinal tract.
In fact, the healthy intestine contains approximately three
pounds of friendly bacteria.2
These bacteria strains function as a
backup to our body’s immune system. They promote health by
secreting antibiotic-like substances, such as lactic acid,
acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and others. Though these
substances are produced in tiny amounts, they have a
wide-range of activity against salmonella, pseudomonas, E.
coli and other harmful food-borne bacteria.3
When the intestine is flourishing with
friendly bacteria, there is no room for the harmful,
disease-causing strains to implant and grow.
Not only do probiotics help to detoxify
and suppress pathogens, they also promote proper digestion.
Certain strains are particularly beneficial as they produce
abundant amounts of the enzyme lactase; and, thus, are
effective in helping many individuals tolerate dairy
foods.4
Unfortunately, this is another area that
has been generally dealt with in a way that has further
exaggerated the problem, rather than addressing it.
Consider the problem: As stated above,
the healthy intestine requires the presence of friendly
bacteria. However, common dietary and lifestyle factors
destroy those bacteria.
Stress—with daily pressures of family
life, work and finances that seem to be a fact of life for
most of us—is to blame for much of the probiotic depletion
each of us experience today. Probiotics are also depleted by
strong antibacterial herbs, cortisone, carbonated drinks, lack
of sleep, laxatives and birth control pills.5 Poor diet, toxins in the blood
stream and emotional upset further rob the body of the
probiotics it needs. Natural aging also takes a toll on our
probiotic stores.
Studies show that most North Americans
have less than half the amount of probiotics needed for
optimal health.6 As friendly
bacteria in the bowel are depleted, the body is subject to
numerous diseases, including colitis, diabetes, meningitis,
rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease and even bowel cancer. A
deficiency in friendly bacteria can bring on a host of
additional problems associated with bowel toxicity.
Following the lifestyle that depletes
probiotics has taken thousands of people further and further
from optimal health. The results have been staggering.
Infectious diseases that once were considered to be under
control have re-emerged with more ferocity than ever. Flus and
colds are more frequent, more debilitating than ever.7
Whenever an individual experiences the
results of a depleted probiotic supply, their doctor’s first
inclination is often to treat the resulting infection or virus
with an antibiotic. Ironically, the strategy used to protect
us from disease further complicates the situation and actually
puts us at greater risk. Antibiotics not only kill the bad
bacteria, they also wipe out the good strains (those same
strains that have already been depleted by the lifestyle and
environmental factors noted above).
Females may be all too familiar with this
vicious cycle. How many women have gone to the doctor because
they had a cold or ear infection, were given an antibiotic,
and within a few weeks have had to go back to see the doctor,
this time with a yeast infection? The antibiotic may have done
its job of killing the bacteria that caused the cold or
infection, but at the same time, it depleted the stores of
friendly bacteria that keep the yeast overgrowth in
check.
Yet still, antibiotics are often
prescribed indiscriminately, even for minor ailments, without
any thought as to whether they are really necessary for that
situation. Don’t think because you haven’t taken an antibiotic
lately that your probiotic supply is fine.
Even though you haven’t had a written
prescription for an antibiotic, chances are you have still
taken significant amounts of antibiotics during the past few
months. You see, animals (including cows, pigs and chickens)
are fed antibiotics in order to keep them well and to promote
growth. In fact, in North America, half of the antibiotics
produced—over 20 million pounds each year—are fed to animals.
Dairy products as well contain high levels of
antibiotics.8
What is the answer then, if our
lifestyles and environmental factors are taking away from our
supply of friendly bacteria? The Greatest Vitamin in the World
provides a constant supply. Many products on the market
(acidophilus or salivarius supplements) are single-strain
products, and as a result do not provide the combination of
benefits that can come from a blend of several different
strains like that found in The Greatest Vitamin in the
World.
When selecting the probiotics for The
Greatest Vitamin in the World we chose stabilized strains of
friendly bacteria. Stabilized strains of friendly bacteria are
hearty and resilient, able to survive the many changes in pH
and temperature encountered before reaching the lower
intestine where these bacteria can grow.
As the friendly bacteria grow and fill in
the spaces in your intestine, there will be no “vacancies”
where bad bacteria can implant. Choose to protect yourself
from toxins, harmful bacteria and their resulting infectious
diseases by restoring your friendly bacteria. Nutritionally,
probiotics can be restored by eating fermented foods. However,
unless you are eating such foods on a daily basis, you are
most likely not getting enough friendly bacteria to make up
for what is lost due to dietary and environmental
factors.
With the factors of constant stress,
overuse of prescription antibiotics, and antibiotics in our
foods, the probiotics in The Greatest Vitamin in the World are
really the only way to ensure optimum bacteria balance.
Remember, probiotic supplementation is particularly important
if you are under stress. Your friendly bacteria supply should
also be restored through supplementation if you have recently
taken antibiotics or are planning for or recovering from
surgery. Friendly bacteria supplementation can be particularly
beneficial for individuals who are lactose intolerant. Also,
anyone who is frequently sick, has recently been exposed to an
infectious disease, or is experiencing symptoms of bowel
toxicity may find the probiotics to be extremely helpful.9
Make a choice to improve and protect your
immune system from the ravages of stress and lifestyle, rather
than leaving yourself open for any bacterial invader that
comes your way every time you eat, drink or breathe. This will
serve you well and take you closer to your destination of
health as you make probiotic supplementation part of your
journey.
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1.
Chaitow, Leon, N.D., D.O. and Natasha Trenew.
Probiotics.London: Harper Collins, 1990.
2. Shahani,
Khem M., Ph.D. and Nagendra Rangavajhyala, Ph.D. “Role
of Probiotics in Clinical Nutrition and Immunity” Paper
presented at the Annual Conference of the International
American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists,
Orlando, FL, August 28-31, 1997.
3. Fernandes CF,
Shahani, KM, Amer MA. Therapeutic role of dietary
lactobacilli and lactobacillic fermented dairy foods.
FEMS Microbiol Rev 1987;46:343-356.
4. Fernandes, CF
Ph.D. and Khem Shahani, Ph.D. “Lactose intolerance and
its modulation with lactobacilli and other microbial
supplements.” Journal of Applied Nutrition Vol. 41,
Number 2, 1989.
5. Shahani, op. cit.
6. Huenel, H.
“Human Normal and Abnormal Gastrointestinal Flora”
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1970; 23:
1433-9.
7. Garrett, op. cit.
8. Ibid.
9.
Fernandes and Shahani, KM. Amer MA, op.
cit. |
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