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The struggle between good and evil is a battle fought not only in the world around us but also in the world within us. There are over 400 species of bacteria residing mainly along the intestinal tract, from mouth to anus dedicated to protecting our health. They outnumber all other cells in the body by 20 to 1. In fact, up to 2kg of your bodyweight is not you at all, but made up of billions of these critters! Collectively known as gut flora, these beneficial bugs have crucial roles in the digestion process as well as our immunity. Gut flora is first introduced to the body during birth, when the baby swallows beneficial bacteria while passing through the mother’s birth canal. These bacteria quickly establish themselves in the baby’s gut and provide part of the baby’s natural defence against disease as well as aiding to digest breast milk. As the baby grows, so does the army of friendly bacteria ensuring healthy immunity and digestion for the developing child through to adulthood.
Beneficial bacteria help with digestion by breaking down certain foods and also are needed to produce B vitamins, niacin, folic acid, biotin, and B6, as well as vitamin K. In immunity, the good guys can fight pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. They produce various substances to alter the pH of the gastrointestinal tract making it less hospitable for unfriendly bacteria. They also secrete natural antibiotics that kill undesirable bacteria. An optimum number of beneficial bacteria will help crowd out the bad guys and control the growth of natural occurring fungi and yeasts such as Candida Albicans.
From birth to old age the friendly and pathogenic bacteria form a delicate and constantly changing balance as they compete to take hold and remain in the gut. When our levels of good bacteria is reduced, it can pave the way for digestive disturbances as bad bacteria take control which ultimately can lead to disease. Factors that disturb the delicate balance in our intestinal tract include poor diet (high in processed foods and sugar and low in fibre), bacterial infections, food sensitivites, stress, foreign travel, vaccines, antibiotics, prescription and recreational drugs and alcohol. Symptoms of mild imbalances range from bloating, flatulence, reflux, diarrhoea and constipation. If these issues are not addressed and harmony restored, chronic gastrointestinal disturbances may lead to or contribute to more serious conditions such as candida, allergies, recurrent cystitis, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Most conditions that involve dysfunction of the gut may have begun as an imbalance of gut flora therefore restoring beneficial bacteria should be part of any treatment of such diseases. Many of the conventional treatments for disease such as antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatories and chemotherapy can result in a further loss of good bacteria, making the road to recovery even more challenging.
Probiotics, a term used to describe beneficial microorganisms, usually bacteria, that are similar to those living in our gut can be added to food or taken as a dietary supplement. Most familiar to us are the strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus, although there are many more beneficial strains. They can be used to prevent and to treat disease or to aid recovery following illness and conventional drug therapy. Best probiotic supplements are enteric-coated, which means that they will survive the journey through the acidic environment of the stomach and reach their destination further along the digestive tract where they can colonize and restore the balance of gut flora. Fermented foods such as natural yogurts, cheese, sauerkraut, fermented soya (tempeh and miso) naturally contain beneficial bacteria so including these foods in the diet may help maintain gut flora. However, if you have been ill or received treatment that may reduce the presence of good bacteria, particularly antibiotics and chemotherapy, or if you are exposed to the above risk factors, it would be wise to supplement with a high-potency probiotic to ensure that you restore the balance in your favour. This not only helps the digestive discomfort of such drug therapies but also improves your chances to fight disease at a time when your immunity is low and extra help required. Also, eating a wholefood diet, high in fibre (and low in refined starches and sugars) provides food for the good guys, which ultimately encourages them to colonize successfully and flourish. Taking care of your inner army will help them take care of you!
Irene Ní Fhlannúra, Nutritional Therapist at Ré Nua Nutrition Clinic & Health Food Shop, Dingle
086 1662562 -
Website: www.renuanaturalhealth.com
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