| Fortunately people are slowly beginning to realise the | | | | However, not all probiotics found in the market place |
| importance of friendly bacteria and are re-introducing | | | | are equal and you cannot believe all the claims about |
| probiotic bacteria into their diets. Good bacteria deal | | | | the bacteria counts, which are done in many different |
| with all the bad stuff and keep the pathogenic strains | | | | ways. Bacteria grow in colonies and many companies |
| under control. So how do you get it? | | | | shake these apart to do their counts, so include both |
| You will find all manner of formulations on the | | | | dead and live bacteria. |
| supermarket shelves. You can get powders, capsules, | | | | The most important thing to know about any probiotic |
| drinks, and yoghurts with manufacturers making all | | | | supplement is whether the bacteria are ALIVE. They |
| sorts of claims as to their possible benefits and | | | | need to be ACTIVE and have the ability to reach the |
| potency. It's confusing. | | | | gut alive and start new colonies. This is problematic for |
| However, replenishing your probiotic bacteria on a daily | | | | many formulations because the bacteria are killed off |
| basis is essential because many different things | | | | by stomach acid. Unless they have been stressed to |
| including antibiotics, stress, pollution, chemicals, dental | | | | combat this, some manufacturers encase them in a |
| work, prescribed medication, contraceptive pills, and old | | | | capsule. This protects the bacteria inside but before |
| age (to name just a few) destroy them. | | | | the body can benefit from the probiotic it has to break |
| If the probiotic bacteria are wiped out it provides a | | | | down the capsule. Often this takes so long it has |
| window of opportunity for pathogenic bacteria to | | | | already passed through the digestive tract and out of |
| flourish, and these are a major source of toxins in the | | | | the body, which negates any possible benefit. |
| body. Infact, it has been estimated 80% of toxins in the | | | | Another thing to consider is manufacturers culture |
| blood comes from the gut and since your blood | | | | bacterium in different ways. Some come from grains, |
| nourishes your whole body it's not surprising many of | | | | fruit and vegetables, whilst others grow bacteria from |
| us don't feel as well as we should. | | | | other sources such as faecal matter. I know which I |
| Joint pains, heart disease, digestive, skin, behavioural | | | | prefer. |
| and mental problems all have their roots in the gut, and | | | | Also, bacteria are very competitive and like different |
| many people unknowingly suffer from Candida which | | | | foods. If the type they like is not available they will |
| is a yeast overgrowth. Everyone has it to some | | | | battle with the other different strains to compete for |
| extent but allowed to get out of control it can be very | | | | what is, and this can be detrimental to the good |
| debilitating. Don't be fooled into thinking it only gives | | | | bacteria population. It is vital the foods the probiotic |
| women the vaginal infection known as Thrush. That's | | | | bacteria like accompany them in the formulation so the |
| far from the truth. | | | | only bacteria they fight are the bad guys. |
| If you ever go to the doctors with any sort of | | | | Lastly, you need to have a variety of different |
| symptoms you will most likely be asked two questions. | | | | probiotic species, which can work as a team to |
| The first will be "Are you stressed"? The second will | | | | overpower the many different pathogens lining the gut |
| be something like, "Are eating plenty of fruit and | | | | walls. There are hundreds of different strains and sub |
| vegetables?", but that will most likely be as far as the | | | | strains, and if you only have one or two they can't do |
| nutritional advice will go. This is mostly because most | | | | sufficient good to create an environment where other |
| doctors aren't trained in nutrition. | | | | sub strains can exist and multiply. |
| They are trained to use medication and since it is | | | | To sum up, bad pathogenic bacteria are responsible |
| generally accepted the pharmaceutical companies run | | | | for toxins, which lead to illness and disease. If you want |
| the medical industry, there is no incentive to encourage | | | | to combat them you need to introduce an army of |
| people to become healthier using food sources. | | | | different strains of strong, live, active, probiotic bacteria |
| Probiotics are food. We've always had them and | | | | complete with their own food supply so they can |
| should have them. They are necessary for us to | | | | re-colonise and kill off the bad gut flora. |
| function, maintain health and fight off illness and | | | | If you want a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby |
| disease. Doctors should know. | | | | top up your probiotic bacteria every day. |