Evidence Accumulating That Friendly Bacteria Essential For Health...

95% of the cells ‘in’ our gastro-intestinal tract are the teeming trillions of different types of bacteria, a lot of which have a symbiotic relationship with us.

In other words, they eat our food, but in exchange they provide a number of beneficial functions including synthesising vitamins, aiding digestion and the regulation of the large bowel, and - crucially - competing with other hostile (definitely not symbiotic) bacteria.

So there is a constant ebb and flow in a healthy gut of a kind of balance of power between our ‘good’ bacteria and the not so good bacteria.

Once we realise this, and note that the vast proportion of immune system tissue lines our gut tube, it is not difficult to see how disturbances to our gut eco system caused by nasty bouts of diarrhoea, or by prolonged use of antibiotics (which target ALL bacteria in our gut, not just the nasty ones), may have major effects on the regulation of our digestive and immune systems.

And healthy gut function and a healthy immune system are essential for a general sense of well being and vigor!

For example, check out this recent research …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110415083151.htm

Update on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 5:37AM by Michael Smith

And then this ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419214849.htm

Update on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 1:39PM by Michael Smith

This report shows have an overgrowth of large bowel bacteria into the small bowel (which should be fairly sterile) may be a cause of IBS type symptoms ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110511092409.htm

Update on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 1:43PM by Michael Smith

And even more weird! - the idea that gut bacteria may affect our moods??!!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517110315.htm

Update on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 2:17PM by Michael Smith

And the composition of your gut bacteria may even affect how your body processes / uses certain medications - e.g. statins, as in the following report …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013184815.htm

Update on Friday, October 21, 2011 at 6:50AM by Michael Smith

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis) and pro-biotics …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024716.htm

Update on Friday, January 11, 2013 at 1:20PM by Michael Smith

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130109081145.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29