http://www.naturalnews.com/z006748_bacteria_probiotic_probiotic_bacteria.html

NaturalNews.com printable article
Originally published April 11 2005

Probiotic bacteria important in prevention, treatment of disease
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor

Probiotic bacteria are beneficial microorganisms that reside in our
gastro-intestinal tract, mouth, skin, and urinary tract. There are
several hundred species of these helpful bacteria, not all of which
have been identified by science. We obtain these bacteria from our
mothers, whose vaginal tract contains colonies of them, which transfer
to the infant during birth.
These beneficial bacteria have a wide variety of helpful effects,
including lowering cholesterol and boosting our immune systems. They
can be disrupted by antibiotic regimens, and in those cases doctors
recommend consumption of probiotic supplements to re-establish the
body's colonies of these helpful symbiotes.Buzz up!vote now

It is not surprising that much emphasis has been placed on disease-
causing microorganisms especially in view of the terrible consequences
of infectious diseases such as SARS and the avian flu.
However there is growing evidence that certain bacteria are important
in the prevention and treatment of disease.
Nature has designed us in such a way that the birthing process results
in the ingestion of bacteria from our mother's vaginal flora which
soon multiply to 10 times more than the number of our body's cells
that reside in the gastro-intestinal tract, mouth, vagina and skin.
The gut flora is made up of several hundred species and not all have
been identified.
It seems that the immune system in the gut at infancy tolerates these
bacterial species and their composition pattern similarly to our
mother's gut flora as the vagina is typically colonised by the
bacteria from the colon.
As the defender of our health, these beneficial probiotic bacteria are
known to lower cholesterol, boost immunity, alleviate lactose-
intolerance symptoms, prevent diarrhoea (especially traveller's
diarrhoea), shorten the duration of diarrhoea, regulate bowel
movements and inhibit growth of bacteria that produce cancer-causing
nitrates.
It appears that after this initial colonisation, the composition of an
individual's gut flora remains pretty constant throughout life.
However the composition of the gut flora can be disturbed by unhealthy
diet, surgery, use of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, chronic stress
and poor lifestyle habits.
Daily consumption of probiotics after treatment with antibiotics is
one way to maintain healthy friendly flora colonies.
As the composition of the gut flora cannot be permanently changed,
research indicates that a good probiotic supplement must be able to
colonise temporarily in order to induce health benefits.

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