Originally Published on: Jun 27, 2016 – 12:37 by A-G @ soultranslations.com
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Probiotics
What Are They?
- Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health (esp. the digestive system)
- “Good” or “helpful” bacteria.
- Help keep your gut healthy (help balance your “good” and “bad” bacteria).
- Naturally found in your body (can also be found in some foods and supplements).
- When you lose “good” bacteria in your body (ex.: after taking antibiotics), they can help replace them.
- Help move food through your gut.
- May help with problems in other parts of your body (ex.: some skin conditions-eczema, urinary and vaginal health, preventing allergies and colds, oral health).
- Are considered to be safe for most people, though some people with immune system problems or other serious health conditions shouldn’t take them. Always talk to your doctor first!
Types- Most Probiotics Come From Two Groups
- Lactobacillus (most common): found in fermented foods (ex.: yogurt). Can help with diarrhea and with people who can’t digest lactose.
- Bifidobacterium: found in some dairy products. May help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other conditions.
Gut Flora
What Is It?
- Another name for intestinal flora.
- Symbiotic bacteria that exist naturally in the intestine.
- Microorganisms that normally inhabit the intestinal tract.
- Positive health asset.
- Crucially influences the normal structural and functional development of the mucosal immune system.
- In genetically susceptible individuals, some components of the flora can become a liability and contribute to the pathogenesis of various intestinal disorders (ex.: inflammatory bowel diseases).
- Has a collective metabolic activity equal to a virtual organ within an organ.
- An improved understanding of this hidden organ is needed. It will reveal secrets that are relevant to human health and to several infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic disease processes.
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Things To Consider
- It’s the balance that matters most (85 percent beneficial to 15 percent less beneficial bacteria).
- Supporting the levels of good microbes helps to keep the other bacteria under control.
- Breastfeeding a newborn helps form a protective barrier to stop “foreign” materials to go into the bloodstream, and serves as a breeding ground for beneficial microbes that to grow.
Things That Can Harm The Gut Flora (adverse effect on beneficial bacteria/ support pathogenic bacteria)
- Fast foods- due to unhealthy fats, sugar, and bioengineered ingredients.
- Meats from factory farms- may contain residues from the antibiotics and bioengineered grains fed to the animal.
- Gut flora can also be adversely affected by
– processed foods
– sugary foods
– foods with bioengineered ingredients
– pollution
– antibiotics
– over-the-counter heartburn pills
– pesticides in foods
-chlorinated and fluoridated water
– stress
Challenges of getting your child to eat the right foods
- It is many times difficult to get them to do it at home… Plus…
- Influences from friends at school or from eating at friends’ houses
- Influences from media commercials to eat at fast food restaurants in exchange of toys, etc
Adults
- Important to maintain a healthy gut flora at all times, for their own health.
- Especially important when planning children, both the mom’s and the dad’s gut flora influences the health of the gut flora the baby will have.
- Best insurance you can give to your child.
Steps For Both Children And Adults To Ensure A Healthy Gut Flora
- Introduce fermented vegetables (properly prepared) in daily diet.
- Consume raw organic grass fed yogurt or kefir (not commercial yogurt or kefir from the grocery store- pasteurized and can contain high amounts of sugar) (make your own with raw organic milk).
- Take a high-quality probiotic supplement daily.
– help to support the protective barrier
– help to build a healthy microflora
– promote a healthy normal allergic response to allergens
– direct the activity of hundreds of genes
* influence the messages sent to your cells
– Beneficial bacteria can turn genes on or off!
Why Are Probiotics So Important For Children (And Adults Too)?
- Eighty percent of your child’s immune system resides in his or her gut.
- A healthy balance of gut microbes can make a huge difference in health (during infant’s early years and throughout life).
- Influence your child’s metabolism and weight by balancing the gut microbes.
- May help reduce potential adverse side effects from childhood vaccinations.
- Supports brain health during growth and development- there’s a close connection between gut and brain
References
- http://probiotics.mercola.com/probiotic-benefits-children.html?utm_source=prnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=secon&utm_campaign=20160430Z1&et_cid=DM104182&et_rid=1464413839
- http://probiotics.mercola.com/probiotics-for-infants.html?utm_source=prnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=secon&utm_campaign=20160521Z1&et_cid=DM105908&et_rid=1491725888
- http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/what-are-probiotics?page=2
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1500832/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7670/