All things well

The name ‘probiotic’ was coined about a hundred years ago by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Prof. Ilya Mechnikov who researched why it was that some people managed to live extraordinarily long lives. But it is only in recent years that there has been an explosion of scientific interest in the ‘friendly bacteria’ which seem to be crucial to our health.

In 1908 Mechnikov proclaimed that ‘Death begins in the colon.’ The March 1st issue of Science News surveys some of the bleeding-edge research currently going into probiotics which explain why this is may be the case. Scientists are finding amazing evidence that probiotics can help with

• obesity
• osteoporosis
• food-allergies and other auto-immune diseases
• irritable bowel syndrome
• fungal infections such as Candida ablicans
• the common cold
• poor diet

There are ten times as many bacteria as human cells in our body – so you can think of our bodies as a ‘super-organism’ – a partnership in which the human part is a minority. So for the overall health of this living system, the importance of the bacterial part cannot be over-estimated.

Among other things, probiotics are responsible for producing lactic acid, which greatly increases the body’s ability to absorb minerals such as calcium. Studies with rats whose ovaries are removed (to stop estrogen and induce osteoporosis) have shown that the rats fed with probiotics maintain their bone mass better. The lactic acid has other beneficial effects – it stimulates growth of cells lining the gut (helping the gut do a better job absorbing nutrients) and knocks out some of the nasty bacteria living there.

Probiotics also manufacture the vitamins K and B12, and improve the body’s absorption of nutrients from carbohydrates, effectively supplementing poor diets. Not only that, but they reduce the body’s ability to absorb fats – a discovery which may lead to probiotics being used in weight-loss programmes.

Perhaps the most significant findings are about the role probiotics play in the body’s immune system. ‘The gut is the body’s largest immune organ’ notes Arthur C. Ouwehand of the University of Turku, Finland, which is why the right balance of bacteria is so important. I reported last week research which show that probiotics reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. The mechanism for this is unknown but other studies have shown that people on probiotics have more white blood cells (T-cells and phagocytes) fighting infections, suggesting that the friendly bacteria help the bodies own immune system to fight more effectively.

More importantly, probiotics seem to have an important role in shutting down the bodies immune response once the infection has passed. Failure to ‘switch off’ when not needed can lead to auto-immune diseases such as allergies and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS, sometimes called ‘irritable bowel syndrome). A study found that probiotics administered to pregnant women and babies reduced the incidence of food allergies in high-risk children.

Not all probiotics are equal

With the scientific interest, there has been an explosion of probiotic products on the market. However, not all are effective. Research published by the UK’s Food Standards Agency showed that the probiotic bacteria in many products do not survive the acid environment of the stomach. This is vitally important if the bacteria are to colonize the lower gut and restore a healthy balance. The ever-informative Dr Mercola has come to the same conclusions, and recommends products which are high in the spore-forming Lactobacillus sporogenes.

We use a product called In-Liven, developed by the same scientist who brought Spirulina to the world’s attention. In-liven is specially formulated to deliver a variety of beneficial bacteria (including L. sporogenes) in the best way possible for your body to absorb. We have seen great results with our youngest son, who has had a variety of food intolerances. As a baby he seemed to get constant ear infections which led to being on antibiotics for months at a time. We suspect this is why he has tended to suffer gut problems and food intolerances. In-Liven seems to do the trick, restoring a healthy balance to his body. You can order In-Liven in a variety of currencies here.

Antibiotics are just one reason why we might need to restore the natural balance of healthy bacteria in our guts. The following is a list of things which kill bacteria in the body:

• Antibiotics

• Birth control pills

• Steroidal/hormonal drugs

• Fluoride

• Chlorine

• Coffee/tea

• Carbonated drinks

• Man-made vitamins

• Synthetic ascorbic acid

• Radiation

• Stress

• Preservatives

• Food additives

• Pesticides

• Fertilizers

If you think you might be suffering from a bacterial imbalance, these are some of the warning signs:

• Difficulty losing weight, sugar/carbohydrate cravings

• Frequent fatigue, poor concentration

• Frequent constipation or diarrhoea

• Faulty digestion, acid reflux and other gut disorders

• Sleeping poorly, possible night-sweats

• Painful joint inflammations/stiffness

• Bad breath, gum disease and dental problems

• Frequent colds, flu or infections

• Chronic yeast problems, candida

• Acne, eczma, skin and foot fungus

• Extreme menstrual or menopausal symptoms

• Allergies and food sensitivities

(Of course, there can be other reasons for these symptoms – not just bacterial imbalance)

One final word of warning: rapidly changing the bacterial balance in the body does cause the body some stress during the adjustment process, and it not recommended for people who are already suffering severe illness. If you fall into this category, please consult your doctor before using probiotics.

You can order In-Liven in a variety of currencies here.

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