Squatters in the Guts – Friends or Foes?

In the dark, damp world of the gastrointestinal tract, there live colonies of billions of microorganisms, some of which arrive within a few days after one’s birth. A vast number of bacterial creatures (the ‘good guys’) live in healthy, helpful, cooperative symbiosis with their human hosts. There are also the ‘bad guys’ – the pathogenic, or disease providing bacteria (as well as virus, fungi, etc.) which often invade certain recesses of our bodies. Our level of health depends on to a large extent upon the condition of the friendly bacteria and the control which they are able to exert over their less friendly brethren.

Yes, deep in the unseen world of our gastrointestinal tract, the battles rages on, populations rise and fall, the industry thrives and constant defense is exercised by these friendly bacteria against some dangerous aliens looking for a place to set foot and colonize. Unknown to us, these keepers of the guts take good care of their environment (the human body), which so generously provides them with shelter, warmth, and food, in return for essential labor and a defense role. Not only do these friendly bacteria help to digest our food, manufacture essential vitamins and prevent cancer-causing chemicals from forming, they also act strongly to defend against undesirable micro-organisms which may appear.

Many illnesses have now been linked to the lack of friendly bacteria. Metchnikoff, in the late 19th century, postulated that toxic amines produced by bacterial putrefaction of food were the cause of degenerative diseases and that ingestion of fermented foods containing Lactobacilli could prolong life by decreasing gut putrefaction. Research has further pointed to 2 major health problems, Rheumatoid arthritis (Rh.A) and Ankylosis spondylitis (A.K.) that are associated with overgrowth in the intestines of particularly harmful bacteria, proteus and klebsiella respectively.

The Honoured Heroes-Probiotics

Because of the protective and therapeutic benefits which friendly bacteria give, they are also called Probiotics (pro-life), which indicates that they support and enhance life. The main probiotics in our guts that help us to fight and stay healthy are Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus: A natural inhabitant found in the small and large intestines, mouth and vagina. They are the most prominent residents in the small intestines.
Bifidobacteria: A natural inhabitant of the human intestine and vagina. They are a major component of the large intestine’s microflora in babies, adolescents, and adults.

Bifidobacteria play an important part in the development of a baby’s digestive function and immune system. When the intestinal flora counts are low and/or of poor quality, food sensitivity and malabsorption problems are more common, which are often characterized by allergies and susceptibility to infection. Bifidobacteria also help in healthy weight gain in infants.

What are the Beneficial Functions of Probiotics?

Their major beneficial functions are as follows: –

They prevent the colonization of the intestine by invading pathogenic bacteria or yeast with which they compete for nutrients and attachment sites.
They assist in liver health.
They produce lactic acid and acetic acid from the sugars found in our food intake. This creates an acidic environment unfavourable for the growth of many harmful bacteria.
The produced acids also stimulate the intestines’ peristalsis that helps constipation problems and accelerate the elimination of the pathogenies from the intestines.
They manufacture essential B-vitamins for our use.
They manufacture the milk-digesting enzyme lactase, which helps to digest calcium-rich dairy products. In general, they aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
They produce antibiotic substances which destroy hostile invading bacteria, viruses and yeasts. (Naturally enough they are doing this to preserve ‘their’ territory, not because they love you!)
They have been shown to have powerful anti-carcinogenic features which at c active against certain tumours.
They effectively help to restore cholesterol to healthy levels.
They help protect against radiation damage as well as deactivating many toxic pollutants.
They help to recycle estrogen (one of the female hormones), which reduces the likelihood of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.
Therapeutically they have been shown to be useful in treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, allergies, migraine, gout (by reducing uric acid levels), rheumatic and arthritic conditions, cystitis, candidiasis, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as some forms of cancer!

What Are the Factors Affecting the Bacterial Flora Balance?

The presence of friendly bacteria also fills up the void in our guts, living in symbiosis with the human host that otherwise would be colonized by harmful bacteria. It is thus important to know that the bacterial flora balance is affected by the following:-

Use of antibiotics and other drugs
Disturbed gastric function
Disorders of intestinal motility
(constipation, spastic colitis, diarrhea, etc)
Altered acid production from the stomach (production commonly lowers as we age)
Conditions such as pernicious anemia (which is accompanied by altered stomach acidity)
Excessive stress
Smoking & alcohol
Changes in the structure or function of the GI tract such as diverticulosis or regional enteritis (Crohn’s disease)
X-ray irradiation or other radiation exposure
Cirrhosis of the liver
Immune system deficiency
Bacterial flora levels decline with age and also in various conditions of ill-health.
Most chronic disease states are accompanied by (many say they are preceded by) altered GI tract flora.
They are also affected to a large extent by the degree of infection due to yeasts and bacteria to which ‘their’ territory (your bowels) are subjected.
The population greatly decreases with a diet of meat, cows’ milk, food additives, fried food, refined sugars, and carbonated drink.
They thrive in the presence of bacteria food, like live yogurt and cottage cheese. In particular, the presence of the prebiotics called Fructo Oligosaccharides is well known to greatly enhance the growth and strength of the friendly bacteria in the intestines.

What is Bacteria Food?

It is found that the activity and strength of the friendly bacteria are greatly enhanced by certain food constituents. In particular, the prebiotics called Fructo-Oligosaccharides are well known to stimulate the growth of the friendly bacteria. Fructo-Oligosaccharides are a group of indigestible food ingredients that are capable of modifying the environment of the intestines to enhance and protect the indigenous friendly bacteria.

Human studies have shown significant increases in bifidobacteria (beneficial bacteria in the gut) and decrease in pathogenic colonic bacteria from ingestion of the Fructo-Oligosaccharides.

Research has also shown Fructo-Oligosaccharides aid in the absorption of minerals like dietary calcium and magnesium.

Friendly Bacteria Supplements – Essential or Choice?

In examining the vital roles friendly bacteria play in our lives,
we recognise that our level of health depends on the condition of the friendly bacteria. Health and strength of friendly bacteria are adversely affected by stress, poor diets, antibiotics, the absence of bacteria food, as well as other factors.

In order to keep our body healthy and immunity strong, it is essential that we supplement our diet with large numbers of the major friendly bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria, together with the prebiotics Fructo-Oligosaccharides.

NewLife ImmuFlora

A technological breakthrough produced special strains of well protected Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Longum that are able to make safe passage through the stomach acids and emerge intact in the intestines. These special strains of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Longum are compatible with each other and enhance the other’s growth.

ImmuFlora also contains Fructo-Oligosaccharides, a bacteria food, that are specially derived from millet. They help to enhance and protect friendly organisms in the gastrointestinal tract.

The unique blend of these 3 components found in ImmuFlora synergise together to provide the most conducive intestinal environment with healthy microflora for optimum immune function.

PRODUCT OF JAPAN
ImmuFlora -a symbiotic compound comprised of the most appropriate combination of Bifidobacterium Longum, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, and Fructo-Oligosaccharides that provides purposeful modification of the microbial flora beneficial for overall host health.

Each sachet contains

Bifidobacterium Longum……10 billion viable cells
Lactobacillus Acidophilus…1 billion viable cells
Fructo-Oligosaccharides……………..200 mg
Natural lemon flavour

ImmuFlora – Don’t leave home without it.