Probiotics

We are our bacteria! There are an estimated 30 Trillion to 400 Trillion micro-organisms in our intestines – this works out to up to ten times the number of our own human cells! An argument could be made that we are more bacteria than human!

Our microbiome – that exists in our gut – is actually an ecosystem all of its own. It is responsible for the majority of our immune system and controls and regulates many other functions.  One problem researchers have found is that just as ecosystems in the world have become less diverse – so have our own microbiome ecosystems.  That means less beneficial bacteria to help us stay healthy.

In short – there are both good guys and bad guys when it comes to our inner bacteria. Everyday we add or subtract to both of those groups, largely based upon our diet.

The overuse of antibiotics is blamed for much of the loss of diversity of bacteria. Antibiotics are over-prescribed and this has led to antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as MRSA.  Three-quarters of the antibiotics used in the U.S are fed to livestock and those antibiotics get carried into the foods from those non-organic livestock.  The “End of the Age of Antibiotics” was recently announced due to the fact that bad bacteria have becomes resistant – they are quickly becoming non-effective.

The good bacteria, also known as probiotics, such as Lactobacillus compete for space and help keep the bad bacteria, such as E. Coli and C. Difficile – in check. If you have enough good bacteria in your gut, you can be exposed to E.Coli and still be OK in most situations – as these good bacteria will fend off an attack.  If you have too many bad strains of bacteria, you can be chronically ill and even contract multiple diseases as a result. It’s very important to maintain a healthy ratio of at least 85/15 good bacteria to bad.

Probiotics are classically defined as “a preparation of, or a product containing viable, defined microorganisms in sufficient numbers, which alter the microbiota (typically by colonization) in a compartment of the host, and by that, exert beneficial health effects in this host”. In humans the organ considered to be the most diverse and the most metabolically active is the gastrointestinal tract. An integral part of an optimally functioning gastrointestinal tract is the microbial community.

 

 

I offer BioDoph-7 Plus®, which supplies a blend of pro- and prebiotics, including Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salvarius, and Streptococcus thermophilus, along with the prebiotics Inulin (from chicory root), Arabinogalactans (from Larch), and Marshmallow root (extract).

If you are interested in this product, please contact me at info@thehappyholistic.com.