Probiotics (Friendly Bacteria)

The word "probiotic", which is used to refer to friendly bacteria, comes from two Greek words meaning "for life." In stark contrast "antibiotic" means "against life."
  1.   Maintaining and promoting the growth of friendly bacteria, while destroying the harmful strains, is vital to health. If harmful bacteria grow in too great a proportion, serious consequences can arise. Most of us are unfamiliar with the benefits of probiotics and the danger we put ourselves in when we fail to take advantage of those benefits. Probiotics are living organisms—also known as friendly bacteria or flora—that colonize and flourish in the healthy intestine. These friendly bacteria are vital to health and to the proper functioning of the intestinal tract. In fact, the healthy intestine contains approximately three pounds of friendly bacteria.
  2.   These bacteria strains function as a backup to our body’s immune system. They promote health by secreting antibiotic-like substances, such as lactic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and others. Though these substances are produced in tiny amounts, they have a wide-range of activity against salmonella, pseudomonas, E. coli and other harmful food-borne bacteria.
  3.   When the intestine is flourishing with friendly bacteria, there is no room for the harmful, disease-causing strains to implant and grow. Not only do probiotics help to detoxify and suppress pathogens, they also promote proper digestion. Certain strains are particularly beneficial as they produce abundant amounts of the enzyme lactase; and, thus, are effective in helping many individuals tolerate dairy foods.
  4.   Unfortunately, this is another area that has been generally dealt with in a way that has further exaggerated the problem, rather than addressing it. Consider the problem: As stated above, the healthy intestine requires the presence of friendly bacteria. However, common dietary and lifestyle factors destroy those bacteria. Stress—with daily pressures of family life, work and finances that seem to be a fact of life for most of us—is to blame for much of the probiotic depletion each of us experience today. Probiotics are also depleted by strong antibacterial herbs, cortisone, carbonated drinks, lack of sleep, laxatives and birth control pills.
  5.   Poor diet, toxins in the blood stream and emotional upset further rob the body of the probiotics it needs. Natural aging also takes a toll on our probiotic stores. Studies show that most North Americans have less than half the amount of probiotics needed for optimal health.
  6.   As friendly bacteria in the bowel are depleted, the body is subject to numerous diseases, including colitis, diabetes, meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease and even bowel cancer. A deficiency in friendly bacteria can bring on a host of additional problems associated with bowel toxicity. Following the lifestyle that depletes probiotics has taken thousands of people further and further from optimal health. The results have been staggering. Infectious diseases that once were considered to be under control have re-emerged with more ferocity than ever. Flus and colds are more frequent, more debilitating than ever.
  7.   Whenever an individual experiences the results of a depleted probiotic supply, their doctor’s first inclination is often to treat the resulting infection or virus with an antibiotic. Ironically, the strategy used to protect us from disease further complicates the situation and actually puts us at greater risk. Antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria, they also wipe out the good strains (those same strains that have already been depleted by the lifestyle and environmental factors noted above). Females may be all too familiar with this vicious cycle. How many women have gone to the doctor because they had a cold or ear infection, were given an antibiotic, and within a few weeks have had to go back to see the doctor, this time with a yeast infection? The antibiotic may have done its job of killing the bacteria that caused the cold or infection, but at the same time, it depleted the stores of friendly bacteria that keep the yeast overgrowth in check. Yet still, antibiotics are often prescribed indiscriminately, even for minor ailments, without any thought as to whether they are really necessary for that situation. Don’t think because you haven’t taken an antibiotic lately that your probiotic supply is fine. Even though you haven’t had a written prescription for an antibiotic, chances are you have still taken significant amounts of antibiotics during the past few months. You see, animals (including cows, pigs and chickens) are fed antibiotics in order to keep them well and to promote growth. In fact, in North America, half of the antibiotics produced—over 20 million pounds each year—are fed to animals. Dairy products as well contain high levels of antibiotics.
  8.   What is the answer then, if our lifestyles and environmental factors are taking away from our supply of friendly bacteria? The Greatest Vitamin in the World provides a constant supply. Many products on the market (acidophilus or salivarius supplements) are single-strain products, and as a result do not provide the combination of benefits that can come from a blend of several different strains like that found in The Greatest Vitamin in the World. When selecting the probiotics for The Greatest Vitamin in the World we chose stabilized strains of friendly bacteria. Stabilized strains of friendly bacteria are hearty and resilient, able to survive the many changes in pH and temperature encountered before reaching the lower intestine where these bacteria can grow. As the friendly bacteria grow and fill in the spaces in your intestine, there will be no “vacancies” where bad bacteria can implant. Choose to protect yourself from toxins, harmful bacteria and their resulting infectious diseases by restoring your friendly bacteria. Nutritionally, probiotics can be restored by eating fermented foods. However, unless you are eating such foods on a daily basis, you are most likely not getting enough friendly bacteria to make up for what is lost due to dietary and environmental factors. With the factors of constant stress, overuse of prescription antibiotics, and antibiotics in our foods, the probiotics in The Greatest Vitamin in the World are really the only way to ensure optimum bacteria balance. Remember, probiotic supplementation is particularly important if you are under stress. Your friendly bacteria supply should also be restored through supplementation if you have recently taken antibiotics or are planning for or recovering from surgery. Friendly bacteria supplementation can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are lactose intolerant. Also, anyone who is frequently sick, has recently been exposed to an infectious disease, or is experiencing symptoms of bowel toxicity may find the probiotics to be extremely helpful.
  9.   Make a choice to improve and protect your immune system from the ravages of stress and lifestyle, rather than leaving yourself open for any bacterial invader that comes your way every time you eat, drink or breathe. This will serve you well and take you closer to your destination of health as you make probiotic supplementation part of your journey.

1. Chaitow, Leon, N.D., D.O. and Natasha Trenew. Probiotics.London: Harper Collins, 1990.
2. Shahani, Khem M., Ph.D. and Nagendra Rangavajhyala, Ph.D. “Role of Probiotics in Clinical Nutrition and Immunity” Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the International American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists, Orlando, FL, August 28-31, 1997.
3. Fernandes CF, Shahani, KM, Amer MA. Therapeutic role of dietary lactobacilli and lactobacillic fermented dairy foods. FEMS Microbiol Rev 1987;46:343-356.
4. Fernandes, CF Ph.D. and Khem Shahani, Ph.D. “Lactose intolerance and its modulation with lactobacilli and other microbial supplements.” Journal of Applied Nutrition Vol. 41, Number 2, 1989.
5. Shahani, op. cit.
6. Huenel, H. “Human Normal and Abnormal Gastrointestinal Flora” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1970; 23: 1433-9.
7. Garrett, op. cit.
8. Ibid.
9. Fernandes and Shahani, KM. Amer MA, op. cit.

Golden Spiral Ministries