The word ‘probiotic’ is derived from the Greek meaning "for life." The human gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 400 types of resident probiotics, also known as "friendly" or beneficial bowel bacteria, gut microorganisms, or intestinal flora. These "friendly" microorganisms protect the GI tract and keep us healthy by protecting us from "unfriendly" microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, viruses, yeasts, and fungi that cause disease. They also improve immune system function, and have many other health benefits.
Within every human being is a flourishing, living colony of approximately four pounds of these friendly probiotics. Most of them reside in the digestive tract although some are found elsewhere (i.e. the oral cavity, throat, etc.). Without a sufficient number of good probiotics, human life would cease to exist. Consequently, if humans fail to maintain a sufficient number of probiotics in the body, disease will occur.
It is extremely important for us to cultivate and maintain a healthy colony of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, one that is composed mainly of several strains of living lactic acid bacteria. Ideally, the colony of microflora should be composed of a ratio of 85% friendly bacteria to 15% harmful bacteria. The regular consumption of a high quality probiotic product that contains numerous strains of living lactic acid bacteria or consumption of homeostatic organisms (HSOs) derived from the soil, produce bacteria that will enhance a person's efforts to maintain a healthy colony of bacteria in the digestive tract. They help prevent or reduce the effect of an infection caused by a pathogenic organism, as they are beneficial, nutritional and therapeutic.
Probiotics derived from the soil differ from those found in the digestive tract as they are very hardy, not destroyed by stomach acids and are transitory in the digestive tract. While they are present in the gut, they clear out receptor sites and assist in eliminating pathogenic organisms like yeast and fungi, bacteria and parasites. These probiotic bacteria help digest lactose, regulate peristalsis and bowel movements, and transform protein into free-form amino acids. In addition, probiotics produce enzymes that help break down and digest food.
During birth, probiotics from the mother's birth canal colonize the infant's gut, and thereafter are provided by mother's milk. After infancy, resident probiotics are supplied to us by raw foods, lactic acid bacteria-fermented foods and probiotic supplements.
Transient or “non-native” microorganisms are beneficial bacteria ingested from an outside source, usually from food grown in soil. These microbes are never made naturally by our bodies; they must be eaten. They are meant to go through the entire digestive process. They enter our bodies, colonize, perform many functions in a short period of time, and are then either digested or eliminated by the body, never taking up permanent residence in the intestines. Some transient bacteria, such as the cultures in HSOs (Homeostatic Soil Organisms), can function in a wide colonic pH range, and are resistant to the various acids the body uses as protective barriers against certain bacteria. Transient probiotics function in an environment with or without oxygen because they are both aerobic (oxygen loving) and anaerobic (oxygen hating).
Once colonized in the intestinal tract, these transient probiotics begin to normalize the colonic pH, which sets the stage for the balancing of the entire body. They are very hearty. They lay dormant until they go through the digestive process, implanting regardless of colonic condition. On the other hand resident probiotics have short shelf lives, can be killed by stomach and other body acids, and have a major problem implanting in the colon.
Yes, stomach acids may kill most resident strains of probiotics taken orally because they are supposed to reside in the colon and should not have to go through the stomach and digestive process. Also, Lactobacillus acidophilus can only function in an acid medium. Acidophilus literally means “acid-loving”. Many of us have alkaline colons, so this is often a major factor in the failure of acidophilus products. The colon should ideally be slightly acidic to support the proliferation of lactobacillus bacteria. The process of fermentation as in OMX12+ overcomes this limitation.
Scientific research makes it very clear that probiotics are of vital necessity and immense benefit to humans. Probiotics not only collectively provide profound health benefits, such as vastly improved digestion and nutrient absorption, but also provide superior protection against the invasion of foreign pathogens and other infectious agents. They also:
Antibiotics, one of the wonder drugs of the 20th century, have helped overcome many diseases that previously may have resulted in death or disablement. However, we now know that antibiotics have limitations and their use and misuse has frequently led to ill health. There are a number of bacteria that have developed partial or total resistance to some antibiotics. Furthermore, broad-spectrum antibiotics don't distinguish between "bad" and "good" bacteria. They kill the probiotics along with the bad bacteria and this may be one of the worst side effects of using antibiotics. The pathogenic bacteria will invade the digestive tract and multiplies in high numbers. This disturbs the delicate balance between the good, beneficial probiotics and bad bacteria.
This delicate balance is also upset by the use of oral contraceptives, steroids, exposure to x-rays and radiation therapy, excessive ingestion of chlorinated water, the consumption of refined sugars and other refined foods, poor digestion, poor elimination of waste, stress, and an unhealthy diet.
Negative effects resulting from loss of probiotics: