Digestive Flora, Probiotics and Health

by

JENNY McFEELY BSc MNIMH

As any of my students or clients will tell you - I put tremendous emphasis on the importance of  the digestive tract to overall health and well being. What we put in our mouths most definitely can affect us either positively or negatively. Orange juice for example may seem so healthy and yet many people find it too acid and it can aggravate conditions such as arthritis, eczema, hyperactivity in children,  rheumatism, gastric ulcer, colitis and migraines.

There is a very interesting link emerging between rheumatoid arthritis and bacteria in  the digestive tract. Similarly  there is good evidence to suggest that gastric ulcers may actually be caused by bacteria. That is nothing very exceptional on its own - we are simply able to find out more about the cause of disease. However there are some more alarming factors to do with these bacteria. A pediatrician who took one of my classes commented on the fact that many more children were getting colitis (a distressing condition with blood and mucous being passed from the rectum often accompanied by diarrhea and pain) and it seemed to be related to the increase in the use of anti-biotics. Many people on anti-biotics will experience diarrhea as the anti-biotics kill off the healthy bacteria. Very few doctors will recommend the use of products like Acidophilus to replace what is lost and quickly restore the natural balance. If this is not done then other more resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria may be able to multiply and cause disease. Candida, for example, is a fungus normally present in the digestive tract. It is not a problem unless the natural balance that exists with other bacteria is allowed to get out of balance. This can happen with the frequent use of anti-biotics - the result is bowel toxemia.

Intestinal toxemia’s have been shown to be either the cause, or a serious contributing factor to many chronic conditions and degenerative diseases such as acne, allergies, gas and bloating, eczema, failing memory, headaches, foul breath and odor, asthma, cancer, mental disorders, breast pathology, liver and gall bladder problems and even sciatica. A common ‘side-effect’ of using probiotics (friendly bacteria) is an increase in gas and bloating as the internal balance rights itself. This is a good time to go out into the desert for a few days!! Most people know about Acidophilus as a beneficial bacteria especially for the upper intestines. it works well with B. Bifudum which is dominant in the lower small intestines, large intestines and the human vagina. The two together produce lactic acid and acetic acid respectively which creates the necessary conditions for the beneficial microbes to thrive and unfavorable conditions for the bad bacteria. Other beneficial bacteria include L. Brevis, B. Infantis, B. Adolescentis and B. Longum. One of particular note is L. Salivarius which likes to live in the small intestines where it can double its population every 20 minutes! It is able to live in either aerobic or anaerobic conditions and helps to remove congested feces which may have been stuck to the intestinal wall for years!! Not a pleasant thought but at least we have something which will take care of it!

We do not get enough of  these friendly bacteria in our diet to replace those lost. Anti-biotics are now regularly fed to 96% of poultry. Chlorinated water kills friendly bacteria in our bodies as well as the pathogens from the water. Swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool is the equivalent of drinking a glass of chlorinated water. Preservatives in foods are designed to kill bacteria - which they do very efficiently.  So once again modern technology has managed to destroy something which we then need to replace in order to maintain good health.

Modern technology has also given us supplement which WILL survive the stomach acids and the bile acids as well as room temperatures (Acidophilus always had to be kept refrigerated but now many of them have been made much more stable).  A few companies have put these bacteria (probiotics) with Jerusalem artichoke flour (JAF). This is important for the long chain polymers called fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which cannot be metabolized by either human digestive enzymes or most undesirable gut microorganisms, but encourages the growth of bifido bacteria e.g. B. bifudum allowing it to proliferate in the colon creating a healthy environment once again. The consequences of this can be enormous from the end of gas and bloating to protection against bowel cancers. Not least of the effects of using probiotics is that constipation or diarrhea will often normalize.

Many people have used strong drugs or laxative herbs for constipation for many years and I find that the probiotics can often solve the problem. We tend to think that if one thing doesn’t work. then something stronger will do the job better. This may not be the case - sometimes it is the gentlest approach which is the most effective and long lasting.