Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph. D.
The bacteria in the intestines operate as a little body-friendly ecosystem. Too few or too much of particular species can produce excessive digestive disturbances, fermentation, bloating, pain, etc, named with the medical term "DYSBIOSIS".
What is Dysbiosis? That is one of the most common disorders of the digestive system where the balance of good bacteria versus harmful (pathogenic) bacteria in the colon is seriously disrupted. The gut flora ecosystem can be easily disrupted by poor nutrition, stress, surgery, parasitic infestation, and drugs- (antibiotics, corticosteroids and painkillers). The healthy gut should ideally contain over several pounds of friendly bacteria.
Probiotics include - Lactobacillus spp., and Bifidobacterium spp. Probio in Greek language means "pro-life". Thus, probiotics help digest and absorb the food you eat, and play a role in generating very important nutrients without which we cannot survive (as vitamin B-12). But the main action of the Probiotics is to keep our immune system functioning properly, prevent food allergies, help repair the gut lining, and suppress bad bacteria. They not only break down all your food into essential nutrients, but also participate in the metabolism of hormones, in particular estrogens.
As a student in medicine and later on as a microbiologist I have been researching for the right approach to prevent or to treat the most serious complication after a long term chemotherapy in oncology patients- called 'Pseudomembraneous colitis'. In the above case the entire lining of the colon disrupts, resulting in bloody, mucous-filled diarrhea. It is provoked by overgrowing anaerobic bacteria named Clostridium difficile. I observed also that many of my patients complained of the same gut inflammation despite they have never taken broad spectrum antibiotics, but used the meat from antibiotic treated animals. Thus I already knew (despite nobody was engaged with exact explanation of the above case) at the same moment when kill the bad (pathological) bacteria, we kill also the good ones, without which we simply cannot live longer enough.
We have to remember that as we age, this army of normal healthy residents decreases dangerously also. In a healthy individual, the beneficial bacteria inhabit the digestive tract in huge numbers, balancing out harmful bacteria, aiding digestion, and supporting immune function. This healthy gut flora can usually be maintained with sufficient dietary foods such as plain yogurt and kefir (the products that contain millions of "living cultures"), and lignans (such as flaxseed), carrots, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, millet, and buckwheat. The digestive tract can be also recolonized by introducing enough good bacteria to overpower the bad bacteria, but dietary sources alone can't provide organisms in the vast numbers required to correct an imbalance. That job usually requires a high-potency probiotics as a nutritional supplement. Taking probiotics, which restock the gut with good bacteria, can help allot.
Enzymes are one of the main keys to a normal cellular life. When we are young, our body (stomach, pancreas, etc) naturally secretes all kind of enzymes (digestive, metabolic etc). They participate in every biological process. Thus, our body normally breaks down the food we eat while making it well absorbable, while our metabolism stays healthy and strong. In fact, the enzymes are so important to the human organism that any malfunction or even one enzyme decline can lead to severe malabsorption, leading to a degenerative disease. Unfortunately with aging our enzyme productions, as well as many other functions tend to slow down. We complain of bloating, indigestion, gas, frequent diarrhea, and/ or constipation etc. As our digestive process deteriorates, energy decreases, while fatigue, lethargy, infection and disease increase. Most adults don't have enough digestive enzymes in their body system because cooking and processing food destroys the natural enzymes present in raw foods.
The Bottom Line is that with aging except enzymes you need probiotics and prebiotics too. Especially in case you overuse antibiotics or corticosteroids.
What is Dysbiosis? That is one of the most common disorders of the digestive system where the balance of good bacteria versus harmful (pathogenic) bacteria in the colon is seriously disrupted. The gut flora ecosystem can be easily disrupted by poor nutrition, stress, surgery, parasitic infestation, and drugs- (antibiotics, corticosteroids and painkillers). The healthy gut should ideally contain over several pounds of friendly bacteria.
Probiotics include - Lactobacillus spp., and Bifidobacterium spp. Probio in Greek language means "pro-life". Thus, probiotics help digest and absorb the food you eat, and play a role in generating very important nutrients without which we cannot survive (as vitamin B-12). But the main action of the Probiotics is to keep our immune system functioning properly, prevent food allergies, help repair the gut lining, and suppress bad bacteria. They not only break down all your food into essential nutrients, but also participate in the metabolism of hormones, in particular estrogens.
As a student in medicine and later on as a microbiologist I have been researching for the right approach to prevent or to treat the most serious complication after a long term chemotherapy in oncology patients- called 'Pseudomembraneous colitis'. In the above case the entire lining of the colon disrupts, resulting in bloody, mucous-filled diarrhea. It is provoked by overgrowing anaerobic bacteria named Clostridium difficile. I observed also that many of my patients complained of the same gut inflammation despite they have never taken broad spectrum antibiotics, but used the meat from antibiotic treated animals. Thus I already knew (despite nobody was engaged with exact explanation of the above case) at the same moment when kill the bad (pathological) bacteria, we kill also the good ones, without which we simply cannot live longer enough.
We have to remember that as we age, this army of normal healthy residents decreases dangerously also. In a healthy individual, the beneficial bacteria inhabit the digestive tract in huge numbers, balancing out harmful bacteria, aiding digestion, and supporting immune function. This healthy gut flora can usually be maintained with sufficient dietary foods such as plain yogurt and kefir (the products that contain millions of "living cultures"), and lignans (such as flaxseed), carrots, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, millet, and buckwheat. The digestive tract can be also recolonized by introducing enough good bacteria to overpower the bad bacteria, but dietary sources alone can't provide organisms in the vast numbers required to correct an imbalance. That job usually requires a high-potency probiotics as a nutritional supplement. Taking probiotics, which restock the gut with good bacteria, can help allot.
Enzymes are one of the main keys to a normal cellular life. When we are young, our body (stomach, pancreas, etc) naturally secretes all kind of enzymes (digestive, metabolic etc). They participate in every biological process. Thus, our body normally breaks down the food we eat while making it well absorbable, while our metabolism stays healthy and strong. In fact, the enzymes are so important to the human organism that any malfunction or even one enzyme decline can lead to severe malabsorption, leading to a degenerative disease. Unfortunately with aging our enzyme productions, as well as many other functions tend to slow down. We complain of bloating, indigestion, gas, frequent diarrhea, and/ or constipation etc. As our digestive process deteriorates, energy decreases, while fatigue, lethargy, infection and disease increase. Most adults don't have enough digestive enzymes in their body system because cooking and processing food destroys the natural enzymes present in raw foods.
The Bottom Line is that with aging except enzymes you need probiotics and prebiotics too. Especially in case you overuse antibiotics or corticosteroids.
Here is a brief summary of the most important enzymes and probiotics that come to gut rescue. If you're not taking a digestive aid with your food or nutritional supplements, you might use the half of their benefits due to decreased absorption.
Enzymes:
· Protease breaks down protein-rich foods( the most difficult to digest)
· Amylase helps digest carbohydrates
· Lipase takes on the fats
· Cellulase and Hemicellulase break down plant cell walls
· Lactase breaks down milk and dairy products
· Invertase breaks down sucrose
· Bromelain, Papain are the anti inflammatory enzymes
Probiotics- Normal residents (Good) Bacteria
· Bifidobacterium bifidum is helping you to absorb vitamins and minerals.
· Bifidobactrium lactis.
· Lactobacillus sporogenes to keep things moving.
· Lactobacillus Bulgaricus- (maintains the equilibrium between Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei and Bifidobacterium spp.).
· Lactobacillus Casei and Paracasei.
· Lactobacillus salivarius.
· Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
· Lactobacillus acidophilus which helps you to digest dairy products, creates natural antibodies to boost your immune system and produces vitamin-K, an essential nutrient for healthy bones.
· Aloe juice can be taken with probiotics also.
Prebiotics are beneficial carbohydrates that can nourish the growth and to promote the activity of the Good bacteria (Probiotics). Thus they also participate in the stimulation and the maintenance of our immunity. Prebiotics include: fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), lactoferrin and arabinogalactan. The good bacteria can metabolize and utilize the prebiotics but the bad bacteria (like Proteus vulgarus and mirabilis, Clostridium Difficile, Pseudomonas, and Serratia) cannot.
Note* Klebsiella pneumoniae can utilize prebiotics for its metabolism. But this bacteria is relatively low rate in the above cases. The fungi Candida Albicans that can also overgrow the bowel can use FOS for its metabolism also, as it thrives on Yeast. Thus, people with Candida infestations or with disrupted immunity (as autoimmune diseases or cancer) should stay away of FOS.
In order you to promote proper digestion and elimination you need:
1. Digestive enzymes
2. Systemic enzymes
3. Colon cleanse
4. Fiber- gentle cleansing
5. Detoxification
Enzymes:
· Protease breaks down protein-rich foods( the most difficult to digest)
· Amylase helps digest carbohydrates
· Lipase takes on the fats
· Cellulase and Hemicellulase break down plant cell walls
· Lactase breaks down milk and dairy products
· Invertase breaks down sucrose
· Bromelain, Papain are the anti inflammatory enzymes
Probiotics- Normal residents (Good) Bacteria
· Bifidobacterium bifidum is helping you to absorb vitamins and minerals.
· Bifidobactrium lactis.
· Lactobacillus sporogenes to keep things moving.
· Lactobacillus Bulgaricus- (maintains the equilibrium between Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei and Bifidobacterium spp.).
· Lactobacillus Casei and Paracasei.
· Lactobacillus salivarius.
· Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
· Lactobacillus acidophilus which helps you to digest dairy products, creates natural antibodies to boost your immune system and produces vitamin-K, an essential nutrient for healthy bones.
· Aloe juice can be taken with probiotics also.
Prebiotics are beneficial carbohydrates that can nourish the growth and to promote the activity of the Good bacteria (Probiotics). Thus they also participate in the stimulation and the maintenance of our immunity. Prebiotics include: fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), lactoferrin and arabinogalactan. The good bacteria can metabolize and utilize the prebiotics but the bad bacteria (like Proteus vulgarus and mirabilis, Clostridium Difficile, Pseudomonas, and Serratia) cannot.
Note* Klebsiella pneumoniae can utilize prebiotics for its metabolism. But this bacteria is relatively low rate in the above cases. The fungi Candida Albicans that can also overgrow the bowel can use FOS for its metabolism also, as it thrives on Yeast. Thus, people with Candida infestations or with disrupted immunity (as autoimmune diseases or cancer) should stay away of FOS.
In order you to promote proper digestion and elimination you need:
1. Digestive enzymes
2. Systemic enzymes
3. Colon cleanse
4. Fiber- gentle cleansing
5. Detoxification
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to sign for on line or phone consultation, or to request an article written to suit your wellness business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment