Like I mentioned in s previous post, there is such a supplement you can buy, called probiotics, which most people have heard about lately. The latest fad. So what are they and what can they do for you? In the lining of your intestines such as small and large bowel there are a large number of various bacteria and fungi called ‘normal flora’. The role of these organisms is to break down the food you eat into smaller particles to allow it be taken up by the blood vessels to supply the cells of your body with nutrients and as an energy source.
So these microscopic organisms are very important in the digestion of your food but when you have to take antibiotics or eat continuously unhealthy food you either end up with no microorganisms, as they have been killed by the antibiotics, or there is an imbalance of the existing ones due to poor diet.
Eating a healthy diet helps maintain a wide variety of good bacteria but if you eat a lot of fast foods, you can encourage the growth of one particular variety or species. Disease results when one particular species increases in number and as a result others die out. Different bacteria and fungi have different roles and specific food sources and by encouraging the growth of bad varieties can lead to disease, as some foods are not broken down properly. A bit long winded but I think you get the idea.
As you may realize, these organisms are very specific in their purpose and our body is designed to eat certain foods but by eating lots of processed foods these organisms don’t know how to cope with it. So to help restore your normal flora in your gut you can take supplements called probiotics, which are live micro-organisms to replace those that are lacking.
There has been an increase over the years with diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease and Helicobacter pylori which causes bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and inflammation of the bowel and stomach in the case of H.pylori. These diseases have also been linked to gluten intolerance of grain foods, but you have to ask why has this increased over the years. Could it be due to genetic modification of the grain etc?.
For irregular instances of stomach or upper abdominal pain or discomfort you can try a drink of carb soda in water or ginger root to help relieve the symptoms.
To help rectify this imbalance in your natural flora you can take supplements such as probiotics, eat foods like yoghurt, fermented vegetables or apple cider vinegar (with the mother or bacteria included) and eat a generally good whole and raw diet. I tend to eat all of the above as I tend to be prone to H. pylori, so this diet helps keep it under control.
There is plenty of information on the net if you are interested in learning more about the variety of organisms in the bowel. Also if you are interested in learning more about probiotics, then Dr Colbert has more information on his website. Probiotics are not that cheap and most need to be kept in the fridge, but if you are suffering from some ailment or have had a course of antibiotics, you can take them for a few months and get things in balance, then you can maintain the level by eating some of the foods mentioned above. But like always this information is more as a preventative measure and if symptoms persist go to your doctor. Click on the link below to learn more about probiotics-