Information obtained from: Protecting Your Health With Probiotics
By George Weber, Ph.D.

Good & Bad Bacteria

Definition:
Any of a large group of microscopic organisms that live in soil, water, plants, organic matter, or the live bodies of animals or people. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that live in and around us. Bacteria may be helpful, but in certain conditions may cause illnesses such as . Bacteria may be free-living, saprophytic (feed on dead or decaying organic matter) or pathogenic (cause disease).

Like everything else in nature, bacteria consume material to grow and multiply. They also produce by products, or waste. Some of these by-products can benefit the bacteria and their environment. Other by-products are regarded as defense mechanisms. These defense molecules try to protect the bacteria from harm-even if it means destroying their world, which in some cases is us!

Bacteria are everywhere
Consider this: No matter how hard we try to get rid of them, there are more bacteria in and on you than there are people on this earth. The intestines alone have about 100 trillion bacteria, which outnumbered all the cells in the human body 10 to 1.

But don't be too worried. You've been living with them since before you could walk or talk. Most don't stay around that long. It has been estimated that humans excrete a couple of trillion bacteria through feces every day. That's about one-third of our fecal matter.

There are more than 400 species of bacteria, many of which share your internal space every second of every day. It is quite obvious that the sheer number of bacteria can affect us profoundly. They metabolize, reproduce, and colonize just like the cells that make up our bodies. Many produce byproducts and substances that can benefit us. They can mutate or change in response to their environment and bodies and unfortunately, some can produce substances that are not good for us. However, you will discover that it goes both ways-not only do the bacteria influence us, but we also influence our internal bacterial population. It's only when we ignore them-or ignore that they even exist that we can get into serious trouble.

We may be the underdogs, but we can still conquer the bad bacteria, and keep and enhance the good bacteria.

Yes, the numbers are overwhelming. And yes, the magnitude of bacteria is unfathomable. However, there is no need to throw in the towel. As with most compelling battles, there are good guys and bad guys. The bad bacteria can lead to a variety of illnesses. The good guys are critical for your good health.

Help the Bad Bacteria

I . Antibiotic Use
It is now widely understood that antibiotics are indiscriminate in the type of bacteria they kill both good and bad.

2. Estrogen use
Birth control pill and prescription estrogen have been shown to disrupt normal intestinal floral balance

3. Travel can influence the condition of the digestive tract.

4. Stress
Emotional and physical stress can have a profound impact on our health and bacterial balance. Pay close attention to how your GI tract responds to stress.

5. Lifestyle factors
Lack of physical activity, low-fiber diet, negative attitude, smoking and drinking too much alcohol and not enough water, will most likely result in digestive disharmony.

6. Food and water borne contaminants
This is dramatically illustrated in cases of E.coli breakouts in our food supply. In addition, chemical preservatives and additives are part of the processed foods we eat.

Support the Good Bacteria

I . Eat a healthful diet of fruits and vegetables. Try to consume unprocessed foods free of chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors. Limit consumption of red meat and simple sugars.

2. Exercise consistently.

3. Drink at least six, 8 ounce glasses of good [mineral] water daily.
Note from Four Winds Nutrition Club: Choose a water with a pH of at least 7.1 (Evian 7.2 or Celtic 7.5)

4. Get adequate rest.

5. Try to control stress and resolve emotional, deep-seated issues, as this has been shown to negatively affect intestinal health.

6. Take a probiotic supplement that contains stable human strain bacteria.

Bacteria Basics

While there are hundreds of strains of bacteria, the two most common types of probiotics are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium. We know that Lactobacillus acidophilus is mainly found in the small intestine, while the large intestine is the primary home for Bifidobacterium (bifidophilus). Both are important for good health.

The friendly, as well as the unfriendly bacteria, continuously die off and are eliminated from the body. It is vital to continually replenish your supply of good bacteria to offset the bad bacteria that make their way into your system via food, air water, etc.

Truly, "we are what we eat." When we inadvertently eat the wrong things, we can be subjected to a wide variety of gastrointestinal discomforts. People don't just have an "upset stomach" without other associated symptoms such as a headache, anxiety, and loss of appetite.

Bifidophilus

This probiotic supplement provides 4 different strains of healthy intestinal flora. These important and beneficial bacteria are "friendly" microorganisms which naturally inhabit the intestinal tract, aiding digestion and absorption as well as enhancing immune function and protecting against harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi.
In the gastrointestinal tract, a delicate balance exists between the host and the intestinal bacteria, most of which are present in the colon. Intestinal bacteria alter the chemical composition of foods and drugs; break down dietary toxins; produce and degrade vitamins; create toxins and antitoxins; and inhibit the growth of certain disease-producing organisms.
Upsetting the balance of the intestinal micro flora can occur with antibiotic use. Disease and aging can negatively affect the beneficial role of these important microorganisms.

Probiotic Eleven

Provides 11 different strains of healthy intestinal flora. It is designed to help re-establish a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and can be used for both therapeutic purposes and preventative maintenance.

Acidophilus

This is a milk-free Acidophilus designed to help repopulate the intestinal tract with healthy colonic flora. These bacteria are "friendly" microorganisms which naturally inhabit the intestinal tract, aiding digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as enhancing immune function.
Acidophilus flourish in the small intestine where they assist in the production of enzymes and stimulate enzyme activity, thus enhancing more efficient assimilation of nutrients. It inhibits the overgrowth of harmful intestinal microorganisms, such as Candida and the bacteria which causes flatulence and putrefaction in the colon.
Acidophilus protect the intestinal mucosa, prevent constipation and diarrhea, enhance bowel elimination, as well as aid digestion, assist in metabolizing calcium provide essential nutrients for building the blood, control the buildup of serum cholesterol, and stimulate the body's immune system by assisting white blood cells in fighting disease causing pathogens.

OTHER PRODUCT TO CONSIDER IN SOME CASES

Gastro-Health

For persistent gastric ulcers and stomach inflammation.
First, you need to know that a lot of stomach inflammation and ulceration is brought on by the effects of a spiral-shaped bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. When this is the case, no amount of antacids or acid suppressing drugs will give lasting relief.
If antibiotics are used, they also destroy important friendly digestive bacteria.
Gastro-Health (Herbal H-p Fighter) contains herbs (pau d'Arco, cloves and Inula racemosa) that inhibit H. Pylori without the side effects of antibiotics. Deglycyrrhinated licorice extract (DGLE) is included to sooth and heal the irritated stomach lining.