Not all bacteria is bad for you. Some are good, and some are even a proverbial pot of gold.
Did you know that the right intestinal microbes help your immune system, guard your cholesterol, and even make vitamins?
Recent research suggests that it can even provide an anti-inflammatory and even an anti-tumor effect.
You need bacteria!
Lactobacillus acidophillus is a most prolific bacteria in human intestine. This bacteria has nothing to do with infection, and to the contrary it guards against it. L.Acidophillus is well know in food industry, because it is used to make yogurt and kefir. It is a hard working, acid producing bacteria and without a doubt it is the single most important live contributor to your health.
By now science has no doubt that the denser the good bacteria in the intestines the lower the incidence of chronic diseases. Here are some examples of health problems due to wrong microflora.
- Vitamin deficiency: Bacterioides (pathogens) destroy our ability to absorb vitamin B12
- Arthritis: Klebsiella and Proteus (pathogens) can promote rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
- IBS: Protozoan (pathogens) infestation can cause irritable bowel syndrome
- Allergies: Candida (pathogen) can cause bowel inflammation and hypersensitivity
- Cancers: Toxic material in the colon produced by pathogens have been implicated in colon and breast cancer.
- Psoriasis, acne: Wrong microbes can cause intestines to be too permeable, causing leaky gut, which is frequently present in inflammatory conditions of skin.
This is only a small sample of health issues related to altered bacterial makeup of the intestines. Yet with more information coming from research the message is clear: there is no health without L.Acidophillus.
Lack of this good bacteria leads to variety of digestive problems ranging from bloating and gas to irregular bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea.
Testing for digestive flora is not difficult, and the results may provide a valuable information about your intestinal microbial makeup.
How did I get low on good bacteria?
Why would we ever become deficient in L.Acidophillus or have excess of wrong microbes? There are many causes. Here are some common ones.
- Stress: Chronic stress produces cortisol, cortisol is an anemy for good bacteria. Many people do not know if they are stressed or not. Yet, there is a simple saliva cortisol test to check just that.
- Intestinal poisoning or food poisoning: a violent diarrhea can forcefully remove good bacteria
- Prescription drugs: some prescription drugs destroy good microbes; among the more common ones are NSAIDS, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or steroids
- Low-fibre diet: good bacteria needs fibre for survival. Low fibre diet provides inadequate medium for L. Acidophillus. We should aim for minimum of 35 grams of fibre in daily food.
- Food allergies: Constant irritation of intestinal surfaces by wrong food strips the intestines of good bacteria. Which foods are bad for you? The only way to tell is to test it.
