A healthy colon flora provides the foundation for a strong immune system, good health and longevity. Probiotics are the living beneficial bacteria that protect our gastrointestinal tract.
The bacteria found in the colon can be grouped into two categories based on their effect on humans. They’re referred to as “friendly” or “unfriendly” bacteria. “Unfriendly” bacteria produce toxic by-products that contribute to long-term illness and chronic degeneration of the body. “Friendly” bacteria (also known as probiotics) favorably alter the intestinal flora balance, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. People with flourishing intestinal colonies of beneficial bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria.
There are several trillion friendly bacteria comprising over 400 species in the average human gastrointestinal tract. While Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most well known of these, others also play a crucial role in keeping us healthy. They include Lactobacillus salivarius/casei/rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum/longum/lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus, among others. In a healthy colon the friendly bacteria outnumber the unfriendly, or pathogenic ones. Our colon can maintain its health with 15% unfriendly bacteria, if the body contains at least 85% probiotic friendly bacteria, such as the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria strains. Unfortunately, in most people this percentage is reversed
What damages the flora balance?
Two of the most damaging substances to the delicate intestinal flora balance are chlorine and sodium fluoride, present in most treated city water, and thus in most commercial beverages including soft drinks. The consumption of coffee and alcoholic beverages further contribute to the destruction of the intestinal flora. Antibiotics (the opposite of probiotics), unhealthy eating habits and stress can also disrupt the natural ecology of the digestive tract. “In a study that was reported in the Journal of Infection and Immunology, it was found oral penicillin administered to experimental animals reduced the total population of anaerobic bacteria by a factor of 1,000 including beneficial bacteria which are called Lactobacilli… As the good bacteria are killed off, the potentially harmful bacteria increase rapidly. This study reported translocation of the harmful bacteria out of the intestinal tract and into the lymph nodes surrounding the intestinal tract. From these lymph nodes, these bacteria were then strategically placed to cause new infections throughout the body.” (1)
The intestinal microflora can be replenished with friendly bacteria by using probiotic supplements. These supplements are only effective if they’re designed to withstand the extreme acidity of the stomach. Once the friendly bacteria reach the small and large intestines, they need dietary fiber to stay alive. A team of researchers from the Medical College of Georgia has been studying the link between fiber and bacteria. This is what one of the scientists, Dr. Ganapathy had to say: “You need to eat dietary fiber to provide the food for bacteria. Otherwise, they are not going to survive there. Antibiotics can wipe out good bacteria as well, leaving a void where disease-causing bacteria can grow.”
“The gut is a huge immune organ; there are more immune cells in our gut than there are in the rest of the body put together,” said Dr. Robert G. Martindale, a gastrointestinal surgeon with a special interest in probiotics. (2)
Eating yogurt is not enough to ensure replenishment of beneficial bacteria
Certain food such as yogurt naturally contain Lactobacilli, however, this may not be enough to keep the bad bacteria in check.
“Commercially available fermented foods are, unfortunately, unreliable as sources of Lactobacilli,” says Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N. , director of Foundation for Integrated Medicine, “because the lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which Lactobacilli naturally produce may kill the producers themselves if their concentration becomes excessive. … The most reliable way to supplement your diet with Lactobacilli is to make your own yogurt or sauerkraut, or to buy nutritional supplements which have been tested by an independent outside laboratory and which list the concentration of viable bacteria found on culture. Lactobacilli are killed by heat, moisture and sunlight. The making of tablets generates heat which lowers the number of viable organisms. Lactobacilli should be freeze-dried, in powder or capsules, in opaque moisture-proof containers.” (3)
FOS – the food for beneficial bacteria
Friendly bacteria are living creatures which need nourishment to live and to multiply. When they receive nourishment, such as fiber, via the foods or supplements we take, such as the Colonix fiber, they are able to maintain a stable population and can continue to play their crucial health-preserving role. Another favorite food of friendly bacteria is FOS (fructooligosaccharides). Probiotic supplements that provide this food for the beneficial gut bacteria may, therefore, be more potent than just regular supplements.
Enteric coating
The stomach is a highly acidic environment that destroys all bacteria – the good ones as well as the bad. If the friendly bacteria from our supplements are abolished before they reach the intestines, where they are most needed, we will not enjoy their full benefits.
The way around this problem is to make the capsules containing the probiotics enteric-coated. This means that the capsules are coated with a special protective layer to ensure that the probiotic bacteria will survive through the stomach and make its way safely to the colon.
Selecting a premium quality probiotic supplement
Why Flora Protect Probiotics is highly recommended
These are the hallmarks of a high-quality probiotic supplement:
 It contains several strains of viable bacteria that are either stable at room temperature, or refrigerated at all times (Flora Protect contains 8 different species of probiotics that are stable at room temperature; the stabilization system for the species was developed by the University of Wisconsin)
It is freeze-dried in capsule, not tablets (Flora Protect comes in freeze-dried, dairy-free powder form and is sold in Vcaps)
It comes in enteric coated capsules (Flora Protect Vcaps are enteric coated to withstand stomach acid)
It contains FOS, food for the beneficial bacteria (Flora Protect contains NutraFlora™ FOS)
It comes in dark moisture-proof containers (Flora Protect is manufactured in amber moisture-proof glass bottles, and should be stored in a cool and dry environment in its tightly sealed original container)
Flora Protect Probiotics is a product of DrNatura.com.
This product is highly recommended with the Colonix Internal Cleansing Program and the Colonix Fiber Supplement.
Contains no milk, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, egg,
preservatives or colors.
Suggested Use:
As a dietary supplement, take 2 capsules in the evening just before bed, preferably on an empty stomach.
Important Note: The amount of Flora Protect may have to be adjusted to your particular needs. If 2 capsules do not make a significant difference in helping your digestion, then you may need to take 3 or 4 capsules a day.
Close cap tightly after each use and store this product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If you refrigerate this product, then equilibrate it before opening with its surrounding room temperature to avoid condensation. This product is sensitive to moisture.
References:
(1) William Shaw Ph.D.: The microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract;
(2) Medical News Today: Limit antibiotics and eat your vegetables;
(3) Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.: Friendly Bacteria
Disclaimer: Statements on this page have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
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