Bacteria friend or foe?
Today many individuals I meet are fearful of bacteria...
Partly
due to media hype that implies MRSA superbugs rather than vital
little bacteria or bugs that assist in digestion of food and
keeping us in balance.
Bacteria: The missing link to good health
I feel, that good bacteria are the missing link in our modern day health or lack of health. Ezcema, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, acne, bad breath, chronic yeast problems, foot fungus, low immune function, sugar & carbohydrate cravings and inflammation can often be attributed to a lack of good bacteria in our body, creating balance.
Recently with swine flu concerns, sales of one particular brand of antibacterial soap according to the Independent on Sunday, UK have risen by 279%! This is a sad situation as antibacterial soaps contain triclosan which is not beneficial, as some companies would have you believe.
Research on bacteria
Gary B. Huffnagle in his book 'Probiotics Revolution' says "the potential benefits of probiotics for those who suffer from chronic diseases are so extraordinary that they can sound like the claims that a snake oil salesmen used to make at carnivals. But here at the University of Michigan Medical Center, as well as at other leading medical schools in the United States and abroad, research breakthroughs are bringing together the fields of microbiology, immunology, nutrition and physiology as never before. This research has produced findings that are difficult to believe at first."
The staggering information in Gary Huffnagle's book talks about seemingly untreatable (without surgery) conditions such as IBD (irritable bowel disease) and Crohn's disease. He states that 'several clinical trials-carefully controlled medical studies involving hundreds of patients- have found that probiotics show great promise for the treatment of IBS (irritable bowl syndrome).'
Why bacteria are so
essential
Allergic reactions, we now know, are caused when the immune system overreacts to harmless substancessays Gary Huffnagle, adds that within the past few years we've discovered that probiotic bacteria can control these overreactions. Studies from Finland have found that when pregnant or breast feeding women take probiotics, their babies are significantly less likely to suffer from eczema. In fact babies only get good bacteria from their mothers when they are born, so maybe the rise in C-section births is causing a child to start off on the back foot before they are even 1 year old?
Beneficial bacteria are essential in the health of a child.
Donna Gates, of Body Ecology, even has a program specifically for children, who due to lack of good bacteria, are experiencing health problems. The program is called BEDROCK- Body Ecology Recovering our Kids program. This is so essential as children deserve the best start in life. I am not alone in highlighting the benefits of probiotics.
Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride has written many papers and books on the vital nature of good bacteria and eating nutrient dense foods. Her book The GAPS diet is a must for any one suffering gut or immune issues or even for a child with autism. I know from my own experience that once I started to eat fermented foods such as sauerkraut (sauerkraut video) and fermented carrots & cabbage and cutting out sugar from my diet as well as bowel irritants such as processed foods, I noticed dramatic improvements in my health and vitality. We can't get away from the fact that we need bacteria and many modern diets simply do not provide what our body needs.
AutoImmune Disorders
Autoimmune diseases are confusing and upsetting conditions for those suffering with them. The Probiotics Revolution, highlights the eight most common autoimmune diseases including; psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions see the immune system being overprotective and overreacting, and getting all confused and attacking our own cells rather than a harmful bug.
Good bacteria help as they essentially calm the immune system down and 'signal the immune system to show restraint' says Gary Huffnagle. Regardless of the deeper science, taking certified organic probiotics (such as Inliven or Fast Tract) or making your own sauerkraut is essential in healing conditions of the immune system.
Testimonials from my
customers
I have found that taking InLiven has had good results with psoriasis.
In particular one girl stands out as an wonderful example of how simple dietary and lifestyle changes work. One little girl had been diagnosed with guttate psoriasis and her mother started her on Fast Tract and InLiven.
Psoriasis
Her Mum's email said: "I am very happy to say that it has had the desired results. We saw the pediatric dermatologist today and she was completely gobsmacked how her skin is looking. Apart from the residual dryness, there is absolutely no trace of the Guttate Psoriasis. We are now on a treatment schedule that involves only seeing her if she has an outbreak and normal medicine does not have a positive effect after a week. She stated that it was highly unusual to see these types of results. (!!!!!!!) S.J. Western Australia.
Things that kill beneficial bacteria in the body are:
- Antibiotics and Birth Control Pills
- Steroidal and hormonal drugs
- Fluoride in toothpastes and many drinking water supplies
- Chlorine... in water supplies
- Coffee and Tea
- Carbonated drinks, sodas, pop
- Synthetic vitamins... most vitamins are sadly synthetic
- Radiation... who knows what cell phones do?
- Stress... a modern phenomena but that sensation when we are stressed, literally indicates our good bacteria are taking a hammering.
- Preservatives... tough to avoid in modern processed foods, but essential to avoid or the beneficial bacteria we eat won't do any good if they are killed by preservatives.
- Additives... see preservatives!
- Pesticides and Fertilisers... Again tough to quantify but full food traceability is best, local food or local, organic foods when you can find them. Better still grow your own.
Benefits of Probiotics:
We need good bacteria, and research has shown that lactobaccilli bacteria assist in the elimination of colon/gut problems such as irritation of the gut, constipation, diarrhoea and skin conditions. A stuck gut/constipated gut won't eliminate as well as one that is working efficiently. Thus it stands to reason that the beneficial bacteria will aid in getting the gut back into balance.
A family member of mine has had the odd gut issue in his life,
but a recent health check up resulted in the Specialist saying "you
have a beautiful gut" which is, I believe, as a result of taking
Fast Tract or 'giggle juice' as he calls it! He is also
eating a significant increase in these fermented foods in recent
years. Foods such as raw milk cheeses, sauerkraut and home
made bone stocks. These either have many beneficial bacteria or
nourish the body & gut, in the case of the bone broth.
Beneficial bacteria, assist in producing natural antibiotics,
antibacterial agents and we have our own built in Army of soldiers,
in our body, that fight off any threatening bugs, or
diseases. That is if we feed the Army correctly.
Nutrient dense wholesome food not packet junk food that only
weakens our body's Army.
Good bacteria in our gut even produce cancer or tumor
suppressing compounds, according to Gary Huffnagle says in his book
The Probiotics Revolution, "All of us are exposed to carcinogens
(cancer-causing substances); our body may develop abnormal cells as
a result. But we have defenses to protect ourselves.
For example, microbes in the intestines help ward off colorectal
cancer by breaking down carcinogens in food to make them
harmless. Also the immune-system -if it is functioning
properly- recognizes abnormal cells and destroys then.
BUY ONLINE
Research
Scientists now speculate that boosting probiotic bacteria could
help the body ward off colorectal cancer naturally, and perhaps
prevent other cancers, too.
That is a more technical version
of my good soldiers and them fighting for us against bad bacteria
and illness in our body! I would add that by eating fresh
fruit and vegetables, and not just mange tout peas and carrots but
switching it up and having kale, spinach, broccoli with lashings of
grass fed butter and salads in summer we also get water within
those vegetables and we need to drink enough to lubricate the food
passing through the gut.
Stomach pain and indigestion are alleviated through eating
fermented foods or eating probiotic beneficial bacteria
foods. I think if we eat vegetables and drink herbal teas and
sip at water throughout the day rather than coffee we will get
enough water, which also assists to improve conditions such as
indigestion. Dr F. Batmanghelidj wrote a number of books,
including 'Your Body's Many Cries For Water' suggesting that water
was the cure for all manner of conditions that many resort to
taking pharmaceutical drugs for. Many of us are
chronically dehydrated which causes stress in the body and… yes,
you guessed it, that kills good bacteria!