Probiotics and Prebiotics 101

[Guest guest]

I've been meaning to write more about this and I'm glad to see the topic has

come up again. I'm actually in the middle of doing some scientific consulting

work for the #1 manufacturing firm in the probiotics industry and much of

what they are doing is beginning to rub off on me. I can't believe I've

neglected this crucial aspect of my own health as much as I have, I should

have know better!

As nutriceutical manufacturers they can't really give medical advice (any

more than we can here) but they are helping digestively-ill people all over the

country ALL DAY LONG. What I've seen and heard done at this place is

nothing short of amazing. Here's a snippet of what I've been learning...

1) We moderns are Lactobacillus (beneficial bug) depleted. In the first place,

we take in one-millionth of what indigenous people ingested. What we do

have inside us, we methodically destroy with antibiotics, colas and carbonated

drinks, anti-acid medications(Tums, Rolaids, Rx drugs), chlorinated water,

drugs, antibacterial soaps, hormones (b.c. pills and hrt), and a diet of

over-processed sugary food.

2) L. acidophilus (and other beneficials) are " sticky bugs " and coat the

intestinal wall virtually " shoulder-to-shoulder " making it difficult for

pathogens

to thrive and difficult for them to punch holes in the intestine. A normal

person

has 10-100 times as many good bacterial cells in their intestine as their own

total number of human cells in their entire body!!

3) Probiotic therapy DAILY can cure and prevent IBD, IBS, Crohn's, ulcerative

colitis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, liver ailments, constipation, lactose

intolerance, gluten intolerance, food allergies, malabsorption, dysbiosis,

diarrhea, traveler's illness, and a multitude of other digestive ailments.

4) Since L. acidophilus affects some of the liver enzymes related to

manufacture and excretion of cholesterol there are direct effects of the

probiotic population on blood lipids, cholesterol and bile. This relates to ALL

OF US. The antibiotics made by good bugs help sterilize and recolonize the

GB and bile ducts and it is said that cholecystitis sufferers have a chronic

bacterial infection in the GB. L. acidophilus reduces excessive backflow

pressure of the portal vein which helps detoxify and cleanse the liver, helping

it to work more efficiently and more easily.

5) Probiotics are the first line of defense against Candida infection (70% of

the women and 40% of the men in the US have a yeast infection!), also

vaginitis, UTI, acne, depression, headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue, and

may be critical in the treatment of autism.

6) Not all probiotics are created equal, and many products and brands that

have been tested by consumer rating companies are inert, non-viable and

won't help you. You have to get the right species, the right viability, the

right

quantity and the right delivery vehicle. Only get the BEST.

7) PREBIOTICS such as Inulin and FOS are special foods not digestible by

the host but perfect food to ramp up the growth and colonization of the good

bugs. Many products called SYMBIOTICS have both probiotics and

prebiotics. Eating the wrong foods (like sugar) feeds the pathogens instead,

and all these bugs must compete and the populations are inversely

proportional. If you don't have plenty of good bugs, you WILL have plenty of

pathogens.

8) Probiotics make literal and real quantities of antibiotics which are

specifically designed to kill E. coli, Salmonella, C. botulinum, Heliobacter

pylori

(the stomach ulcer bug) and other bad guys. Most commercial antibiotics

originally came from certain bacteria.

9) In addition to supplemental probiotics it's important to eat CULTURED

living foods daliy such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sour cream, kim chee,

sauerkraut, kvass, tempeh, miso, pickles (non-vinegar), and others. These

living foods must not be pasteurized and they are sold as refrigerated

products. It's even better to make your own. (see " Nourishing Traditons " by

Sally Fallon).

10) A therapeutic dose would be at least 10 billion bugs daily (2 capsules)

and a maintenance dose is 5 billion bugs (one capsule). Best time to take

them is before breakfast and between meals. There is no problem if you give

extra beneficial probiotics.

More to follow as I continue the learning process,

Will in Minneapolis

[Guest guest]

Hi Will, Hi Everyone:

I like what I hear about eating good bugs. I like to use yogurt, specifically,

's Organic Yogurt. It has a good supply of all the good bugs. Is there

any benifit that specifically relates to gallstones? It says it is low fat.

But sometimes low fat has some coconut oil, palm oil or veggie oil. Any of

these will increase the production of cholesterol. Also, my pain management

seems to have a direct relation to cholesterol and fat consumption. Bottom

line, do the benefits of eating yogurt out weigh the problems? What do you

think?