There has been a lot of talk recently about
probiotics. Breaking down the word into its
linguistic Greek components reveals the simple
meaning of "for life". The word has come to
stand for any of a number of beneficial bacteria
that reside in the intestines to actively
promote health and wellness in the human body.
Probiotics do this by populating your small
intestines with "friendly bacteria" that feed on
other microorganisms that your body doesn’t
need. These other microorganisms are often
potentially harmful. Countless types of bacteria
coexist in your intestines. The goal is to
increase number of good bacteria while
decreasing the number of bad bacteria.
It is vital to keep your intestinal walls clean
so that they are able to absorb more of the
nutrients from the food you eat. The large
intestines are also better able to perform their
elimination functions if they are clean and free
of harmful organisms. Though found deep inside
of the human body, the intestinal tract is
greatly affected by everything that enters the
body from the outside environment.
A balanced level of intestinal bacteria can make
a huge difference in your overall healthy and
sense of well-being.
Symptoms of bacterial imbalance include but are
not limited to acid reflux and indigestion,
constipation, fatigue, gas, and overall feelings
of being bloated. Mental symptoms such as
depression, mood swings, and irritability can
There are many reasons why the inside of most
people's intestines are devoid of good bacteria.
These reasons include diets that are laden with
processed foods and refined sugars, heavy use of
antibiotics, drinking water that has been
treated with chemicals such as chlorine or
sodium fluoride, ingesting pesticides,
insecticides, or herbicides found on many fruits
and vegetables, over consumption of alcoholic
beverages, and even stress. Any combination of
these triggers can disrupt the bacterial ratios
of the intestines. A healthy number is around 85
percent of good bacteria. The body can continue
to function healthily with 15 percent
"unfriendly" bacteria but obviously, the more
probiotic strains, the better.
Probiotics not only inhibit the growth of
harmful bacteria by promoting the spreading of
good bacteria, they also aide in food digestion
and vitamin absorption. They can assist the body
in vitamin production. Probiotics stimulate the
immune system, which helps the body fight off
One of the primary difficulties with probiotics
is that the only remain in one's system for a
few days, so they must be constantly replenished
in order to maintain a healthy intestinal tract.
Certain foods such as yogurt, bananas, garlic,
and onions, have naturally occurring probiotics,
however, it is hard to know exactly which
strains and how much of them you are consuming
in these foods. Furthermore, some of the
bacteria cannot survive the journey all the way
to the intestines and are destroyed by the
gastric juices secreted by the stomach.
Bacillus Laterosporus is a soil based organism
that was discovered in Iceland and later
commercialized during the 1980s into probiotic
supplement form. Bacillus Laterosporus is a good
bacteria needed by the intestines to fight off
Candida, a fungal infection. It fights Candida
by repopulating the intestines, leaving no room
for the harmful fungus. It is said to puncture
the membrane of the fungus, after which it
actually eats and digests the harmful fungus. In
addition to fighting Candida, it may also
prevent the growth of other harmful strains such
as including e. coli, salmonella and
streptococcus faecalis. Bacillus Laterosporus is
a spore-bearing bacteria that, when encased in
its spore, can survive the acidic stomach juices
and thus complete the journey into the small
intestines where it thrives.
Before taking a probiotic supplement of any
form, it is always a good idea to talk with your
physician and tell him or her of any other
medications you are currently taking. Always
follow the recommended dosage instructions and
if you notice any odd symptoms or side effects,
consult your physician immediately.
1 What are HSOs (Homeostatic Soil Organisms)
2 Healing with Probiotics. Healing Daily, 2009
3 CFS Nutrition: Bottled Nutrients http://www.cfsn.com/yavenge.html
4 Patent Storm. US Patent 5455028 - Method of
inhibiting fungi by Bacillus laterosporus
5 Dr. Constance, Stairway to Health, 2009
6 Research in Microbiology. Volume 147, Issue 5,
1996, Pages 343-350. Science
7 Experts 123 The Question Encyclopedia. What is
bacillus laterosporus BOD?, 2008.
complete description of probiotics, along with
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