Probiotics - Lactic acid bacteria

More than one kilogram of intestinal bacteria with various species and subgroups exist in our intestinal system. A large part of these are the lactic acid bacteria and their number, species deviation, and probably also their mutual balance are of vital importance to our health.
Lactic acid bacteria optimize the intestinal system and therefore also participate in the utilization of nutrients in food. Lactic acid bacteria primarily transform various carbohydrates into lactic acid but also into acetic acid and carbon dioxide etc. By doing this the pH is lowered and the growth of damaging intestinal bacteria is inhibited. Lactic acid bacteria also produce other bacteriostatic substances (bacteriocins) that displace pathogenic bacteria from the intestinal mucosa.
Lactic acid bacteria are also able to form vitamin K and certain kinds of vitamin B. Some lactic acid bacteria produce amino acids that bind minerals in the intestines to make the absorption through the intestinal wall easier. Substantial amounts of lactic acid bacteria participate in lowering the cholesterol level and in supporting the liver and the immune system. In doing so the risk of developing degenerative diseases decreases. Moreover, a healthy and sufficient intestinal flora counteracts symptoms from pathogenic bacteria like salmonella, for example.
Some people have too few intestinal bacteria. This can be caused by several factors: Stress is probably the most common cause. A diet that is low in fibre and rich in protein is not beneficial to a healthy intestinal flora. Antibiotic treatments or using medicine like adrenocortical (steroid) hormones or immunosuppressants are more well-known causes. Moreover, increasing age causes a general deterioration of the intestinal flora.
A lot can be done to make the natural content of beneficial lactic acid bacteria in the intestines thrive. Cut down your intake of protein and eat more vegetables and foods with fibres. Molkosan, vegetables, and juice that are fermented in lactic acid, garlic, and bitter herbs are all excellent at making the lactic acid bacteria of the intestines thrive. Finally, taking a daily supplement of lactic acid bacteria is an option.
Lactic acid bacteria can often be used as a preventive treatment. When travelling to foreign countries, one can often avoid diarrhoea by making sure that one's intestinal flora is "strong". Most products contain several kinds of intestinal bacteria. Some are broken down quickly, while others are able to stay longer in the system. In any situation where the intestinal system - primarily the large intestines and to a lesser extent the small intestines - does not function normally, one is well-advised to take a daily supplement of at least 1 billion bacteria as only 10% of them can be expected to be viable when reaching the intestinal system.
If you suffer from a disease where the intestinal system is particularly strained, you might benefit from taking larger doses. Many elderly people have trouble maintaining their intestinal flora and they benefit much from lactic acid bacteria supplements.
The more diversified the lactic bacteria in the preparation, the better. Lactic acid bacteria in capsule form should be stored in a cool, dry place because they contain living bacteria. Often, large amounts of bacteria are needed when there are problems with the intestines.
The strength of probiotics preparations is measured in Colony Forming Units (CFU).
If you take a mineral supplement containing vitamin K, magnesium, and manganese together with a probiotic supplement, more of the bacteria in the probiotic supplement will survive in the intestines.
If the stools are loose and light, one may benefit from taking a supplement with lactic acid bacteria. Many people suffer from fungal attacks in the intestinal system. In such a case, a lactic acid bacteria supplement could be combined with garlic - either in its raw form or as tablets or capsules.
The most well-known lactic acid bacterium is the Lactobacillus acidophilus, whish is a very common remedy in the treatment of diarrhoea and constipation as it tolerates the very low pH of the stomach, but there are many other types of bacteria with various abilities to combat disease, e.g. Lactobacillus bifido, Streptococcus lactis, and -thermophilus.
Make sure that you do not suffer from a disease that requires another kind of treatment!
Also see: Prebiotics