There has been a lot of talk recently about probiotics. Breaking down the word into its linguistic Greek components reveals the simple meaning of "for life". The word has come to stand for any of a number of beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestines to actively promote health and wellness in the human body. Probiotics do this by populating your small intestines with "friendly bacteria" that feed on other microorganisms that your body doesn't need. These other microorganisms are often potentially harmful. Countless types of bacteria coexist in your intestines. The goal is to increase number of good bacteria while decreasing the number of bad bacteria.

Purpose:
It is vital to keep your intestinal walls clean so that they are able to absorb more of the nutrients from the food you eat. The large intestines are also better able to perform their elimination functions if they are clean and free of harmful organisms. Though found deep inside of the human body, the intestinal tract is greatly affected by everything that enters the body from the outside environment.

Problems:
A balanced level of intestinal bacteria can make a huge difference in your overall healthy and sense of well-being.
Symptoms of bacterial imbalance include but are not limited to acid reflux and indigestion, constipation, fatigue, gas, and overall feelings of being bloated. Mental symptoms such as depression, mood swings, and irritability can also occur.

Causes:
There are many reasons why the inside of most people's intestines are devoid of good bacteria. These reasons include diets that are laden with processed foods and refined sugars, heavy use of antibiotics, drinking water that has been treated with chemicals such as chlorine or sodium fluoride, ingesting pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides found on many fruits and vegetables, over consumption of alcoholic beverages, and even stress. Any combination of these triggers can disrupt the bacterial ratios of the intestines. A healthy number is around 85 percent of good bacteria. The body can continue to function healthily with 15 percent "unfriendly" bacteria but obviously, the more probiotic strains, the better.

Strengths:
Probiotics not only inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by promoting the spreading of good bacteria, they also aide in food digestion and vitamin absorption. They can assist the body in vitamin production. Probiotics stimulate the immune system, which helps the body fight off diseases.

Weaknesses:
One of the primary difficulties with probiotics is that the only remain in one's system for a few days, so they must be constantly replenished in order to maintain a healthy intestinal tract. Certain foods such as yogurt, bananas, garlic, and onions, have naturally occurring probiotics, however, it is hard to know exactly which strains and how much of them you are consuming in these foods. Furthermore, some of the bacteria cannot survive the journey all the way to the intestines and are destroyed by the gastric juices secreted by the stomach.

Bacillus Laterosporus is a soil based organism that was discovered in Iceland and later commercialized during the 1980s into probiotic supplement form. Bacillus Laterosporus is a good bacteria needed by the intestines to fight off Candida, a fungal infection. It fights Candida by repopulating the intestines, leaving no room for the harmful fungus. It is said to puncture the membrane of the fungus, after which it actually eats and digests the harmful fungus. In addition to fighting Candida, it may also prevent the growth of other harmful strains such as including e. coli, salmonella and streptococcus faecalis. Bacillus Laterosporus is a spore-bearing bacteria that, when encased in its spore, can survive the acidic stomach juices and thus complete the journey into the small intestines where it thrives.

Conclusion:
Before taking a probiotic supplement of any form, it is always a good idea to talk with your physician and tell him or her of any other medications you are currently taking. Always follow the recommended dosage instructions and if you notice any odd symptoms or side effects, consult your physician immediately.

REFERENCES:

(1) What are HSOs (Homeostatic Soil Organisms) Probiotics? crohns.net
(2) Healing with Probiotics. Healing Daily, 2009
(3) CFS Nutrition: Bottled Nutrients http://www.cfsn.com/yavenge.html
(4) Patent Storm. US Patent 5455028 - Method of inhibiting fungi by Bacillus laterosporus http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5455028/description.html
(5) Dr. Constance, Stairway to Health, 2009 stairwaytohealth.com/probioticb-florab.htm
(6) Research in Microbiology. Volume 147, Issue 5, 1996, Pages 343-350. Science globalhealingcenter.com/probiotic-bacterium-supplement.php
(7) Experts 123 The Question Encyclopedia. What is bacillus laterosporus BOD?, 2008. experts123.com/q/what-is-bacillus-laterosporus-bod.html

For more information:

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