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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.
This article courtesy of John Trout
- www.vitamin4body.com
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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