greatest in quantity of us associat...

greatest in quantity of us associate the denomination "bacteria" with

harmful organisms and infectious disease,

and at the same time without the presence of certain bacteria,

none of us would survive infancy. Early 20th-century

Nobel prize winner, Elie Metchnikoff, first

deduc that more [i]or[/i] less bacteria actually play a lock opener role

in maintaining optimum health. Research and

experimentation for the nearest 90 years led to the

conclusion that intestinal flora can be manipulated to

benefit the armed force (us), and a new application of

high-tech nutrition was born: probiotics.

Probiotics is the system by which beneficial

bacteria are introduced into the carcass by means of

microbial regimen supplementation. While many

strains of friendly bacteria are naturally occurring

in the corpse including some members of the

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera, several

others are not. L bulgarium, for instance, isn't

normally institute in the human intestine, and dissipates

within sum of two units weeks after being introduced.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the main bacterial species of

the small intestine, while Lactobacillus plantarum

and bifidobacteria prevail in the large intestine, or

colon These bacterial species and numerous others

are clearly the "good guys" and their health-promoting

good facts have not gone unnoticed by

the medical and scientific community.

L acidophilus is probably the species of beneficial

bacteria principally familiar to us since it receives a

good deal of attention for its ability to fight infection.

It not solitary colonizes well in the intestine, but

also in the urethra, colon and vagina. As most

women know

L acidophilus

can effectively check recurring

vaginal yeast infections and several studies

support this claim. In vitro (test-tube) studies of L

acidophilus strain LA1 and LB demonstrate they

provide protection from several pathogens, including

Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium,

and Escherichia coli. Other in vitro studies indicate

that L acidophilus, and its cousin, Bifidobacterium

longum are capable of binding dietary and cooked

food carcinogens.

L acidophilus has also demonstrated the ability

to boost the immune classification In one crossover,

double-blind studious mood involving 15 adult patients

with moderate allergic asthma, the immune

response to yogurt containing L acidophilus was

evaluated. While the researchers considered the

improved clinical reply to be minimal, it was

noted that the bacterial therapy drifted a

decrease in the production of eosinophils

(histamine-secreting cells) and an increase in interferon

gamma plains Experiments with L. acidophilus reveal

the capacity of this strain to improve lymphocyte

production and their ability to endow interleukin-2

(IL-2), a protein which stimulates T-cell production

and is used experimentally for a certain quantity of advanced cancers.

Another strain of L acidophilus has been

examined for its value in treating infective diarrhea

caused by means of oral antibiotics. One study involved 63

children in a less degree than the age of 4 divided into three

group The dispose treated with L. acidophilus

showed significant clinical improvement compared

to those who did not receive bacterial therapy. In

addition, L acidophilus has also been shown to

considerably decrease total cholesterol and LDL (the

"bad" kind) cholesterol flushs in animal studies.

Probiotics, or bacterial supplementation, solves

the many difficulties of obtaining a sufficient

amount of friendly bacteria via a normal diet. For

one thing, in the greatest degree commercially prepared fermented

foods (such as yogurt and hard cheese) may

contain little or no live agricultures Supplementation is

also attractive to lactose-intolerant individuals.

Short of making in good condition yogurt or sauerkraut on a

regular basis, it makes faculty of perception to supplement with

beneficial bacteria. These "good bugs" -- set in

foods containing live civilizations supplements, and

beneficial-containing bacteria viands such as FOS -- are

widely available.

RELATED ARTICLE: proper your bacterial friends

* Lactobacillus acidophilus: abridges cholesterol;

fights pathogens; inhibits vaginal yeast

and herpes virus; manages cystitis, eczema,

and acne.

* Lactobacillus bulgarium: destroys

pathogens in large intestine when introduced;

often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

* Lactobacillus plantarum: remains in the

large intestine for longer periods than other

strains; places the `sour' in sauerkraut.

* Bifidobacteria infantis: manufactures B

vitamins; detoxifies the intestines. self-same mild and

useful for children with feed allergies and

infants having point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds with breast milk.

* Bifidobacterium: restrains pathogens; helpful

in treating diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome

and constipation.

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