Chapter 4 THE PROBIOTIC MIRACLE

Chapter 4

THE PROBIOTIC MIRACLE

An Army Of Billions

When you were born, your intestines were free of microorganisms, virtually sterile. Almost immediately, however, bacteria, both beneficial and harmful, fought for dominance.[1*]
 If you were breast fed, somewhere between days four and seven after you were born, the "good guys" won the battle and staked their claim to virtually every square inch of your digestive tract—from your mouth to your anus.[2**]
 (Researchers now realize that one of the chief reasons breast-fed babies get so many fewer infections than formula-fed babies is that mother's milk tends to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas store-bought formulas have
little such beneficial effect.) Anyway, the net result is that in a breast-fed baby, beneficial bacteria
(such as bifidobacteria) control over 90% of the intestinal tract. These microorganisms, in turn, produce a large amount of essential byproducts in the intestines, which act as a barrier to the growth of dangerous pathogenic microbes that can cause disease and infection.

[1*: It's a battle that's never totally won; the harmful bacteria are never completely eliminated. But in a healthy body, the bad guys never get a chance to gain a foothold—to colonize—to reproduce exponentially. One of the problems, of course, is that every second of every single day, we are constantly being exposed to billions and billions of potentially harmful microorganisms with every breath we take or bit of food that we swallow or swig of water that we drink.]

[2**: The same battle is fought in the vaginal tract, the nasal cavities, and in the mouth. Just as a note, there are some 40 different types of bacteria resident in a healthy mouth alone.]


   When you're healthy, over 100 trillion microorganisms from some 400 different species flourish in your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion, absorption, and the production of significant amounts of B vitamins and enzymes. But even more importantly, they cover virtually every square inch of available surface space from your mouth to your anus, thus crowding out all harmful bacteria—allowing them no place to gain a foothold.

  Unfortunately,the levels of beneficial bacteria decline dramatically as the human body ages. Some of the reasons for this decline include:

> Over time, the colonies of friendly bacteria just naturally age and lose their vitality.

> Disruptions and changes in the acid/alkaline balance of the bowels can play a major role in reducing the growth of beneficial bacteria. In addition, these changes tend to favor the growth of harmful viral and fungal organisms as well as putrefactive, disease-causing bacteria.

> Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Advil, Motrin, Midol, etc. are destructive to intestinal flora.

> Chlorine in the drinking water not only serves to kill bacteria in the water; it is equally devastating to the colonies of beneficial bacteria living in the intestines.

 > Radiation and chemotherapy are devastating to your inner bacterial environment.

> Virtually all meat, chicken, and dairy that you eat (other than organic) is loaded with antibiotics, which destroy all of the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

 > A diet high in meats and fats, because they take so long to break down in the human body, promotes the growth of the harmful, putrefying bacteria.

 > Constipation, of course, allows harmful bacteria to hang around longer, which allows them to proliferate.

> Cigarettes, alcohol, and stress are also major culprits, as are some antibiotic herbs,
such as goldenseal (if taken in sufficient quantity).

> And if you've ever been subjected to a round of "medicinal" antibiotics, you can kiss your beneficial bacteria goodbye. The problem is that antibiotics indiscriminately destroy both bad and good bacteria, allowing virulent, mutant strains of harmful microorganisms to emerge and run rampant inside the body.[1*]

A properly functioning intestinal tract is one of your body's first lines of defense against invaders. In a healthy colon there are, on average, anywhere from 100 billion to 100 trillion beneficial bacteria per milliliter (about 1/5 of a teaspoon) that literally consume harmful bacteria and other invaders. In the typical American, because of poor diet and neglect of the colon, the beneficial bacteria count may be as low as four or five per milliliter. Just compare 100 trillion to four, and ...

[1* Antibiotics (both medicinal and in our food supply) are the #1 culprit in the overgrowth of harmful pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition called dysbiosis) that may be at the root of many autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.] 

...you'll have an understanding of the scope of the problem. Many researchers now believe that declining levels of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract may actually mark the onset of chronic degenerative disease. The benefits of a probiotically optimized intestinal tract include:
>Lowered cholesterol;

>Inhibition of cancer;

>Protection against food poisoning;

>Protection against stomach ulcers;

>Protection against lactose intolerance and casein intolerance;

>Enhanced immunity;

>Protection against many harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi;

>Protection against candida overgrowth and vaginal yeast infections;

>Prevention and correction of constipation and diarrhea, ileitis and colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a whole range of other digestive tract dysfunctions;

>Improvement in the health and appearance of the skin;

>Better nutrition from improved absorption and the internal generation of B vitamins;

>Protection against vaginosis and yeast infections.

Summary

  There can be no true health or recovery from disease unless you have colonies of over 100 trillion beneficial microorganisms flourishing throughout your intestinal tract, aiding in digestion,
absorption, the production of significant amounts of vitamins and enzymes, and working to crowd out all harmful bacteria—allowing them no place to gain a foothold. Supplementation with a
good probiotic is mandatory to raise your baseline of health.

General Recommendations

  A good probiotic formula is absolutely essential for long-term intestinal health and long-term parasite control. When choosing a probiotic, look for the following characteristics:

  Not all strains of beneficial bacteria are created equal. For each type of bacteria, there are recognized super strains. Choose a formula that uses only recognized super strains of beneficial bacteria. They will be identified as such on the label or in the company literature. If the strains are not identified, don't buy it.

  Make sure the formula you choose was developed using full-culture processing so that the beneficial bacteria and its powerful supernatant are kept together. The supernatant, which is the medium the culture was grown in, contains a multitude
of beneficial byproducts of the growth process, including vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants, and immune stimulators. 

  Then there's the question of how many live microorganisms are left in your formula when you actually use it. Pick up any probiotic formula, look at the label, and you'll see something like: "Contains 13 billion live organisms per capsule at time of manufacture." And that's the problem: "at time of manufacture." The die-off rate can be astounding. Most formulas will experience a die-off approaching log-3 (or down to a paltry 13 million) within just 60 days of manufacture.[1*]
 Heat and moisture accelerate the process, which is why most manufacturers recommend that both you and the store in which you bought your formula keep your probiotic supply refrigerated.

  There are many beneficial bacteria that can be contained in a good probiotic, but two are preeminent. Look for a formula based on these two:
- L. acidophilus resides primarily in the small intestine [2*]
 and produces a number of powerful antimicrobial compounds in the gut (including acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin). These compounds can inhibit the growth and toxin producing capabilities of some 23 known disease-causing pathogens (including campylobacter, listeria, and staphylococci), as well as reduce tumor growth and effectively neutralize or inhibit carcinogenic substances. There are three recognized super strains of acidophilus: DDS, NAS, and BT1386. You will find DDS and NAS
in most of the better formulas, but my personal preference is for BT1386. It has an extremely high potential for attachment to the epithelial cells that line the intestine; it's a high producer of hydrogen peroxide, which kills pathogenic bacteria; and, of
the three strains, it's the only one capable of utilizing glycogen to survive and flourish, which means it can thrive in the urinary tract, where it produces lactic acid to inhibit the growth of pathogens. This is particularly important to women to help prevent a whole range of vaginal infections.

- Many researchers believe that declining levels of bifidobacteria in the large intestine actually mark the eventual onset of chronic degenerative disease. Bifidobacteria benefit the body in a number of ways. They (1) consume old fecal matter; (2) have the ability to remove cancer-forming elements, or the enzymes which lead to their formation; (3) protect against the formation of liver, colon, and mammary gland tumors. And in addition to all of that, (4) bifidobacteria are substantial producers of a range of important B vitamins.

  More is not always better. Too many beneficial bacteria in one formula may find the bacteria competing with each other before they can establish themselves in separate areas of the intestinal tract. On the other hand, there are several other bacteria that are extremely beneficial in any probiotic formula.

- L salivarius helps digest foods in the intestinal tract and makes vital nutrients more assimilable. It also works to eat away encrusted fecal matter throughout the entire colon; it helps repair the intestinal tract by providing needed enzymes and essential nutrients; and it adheres to the intestinal wall, thereby forming a living matrix that helps protect the mucosal lining.

[1* There is a new process called LiveBac®, which significantly retards the rate of die-off. Look for formulas that make use of this process.]

[2* It's also important to note that L. acidophilus is the primary beneficial bacteria in the vaginal tract. When the presence of the acidophilus is compromised, this allows the bad guys such as Gardnerella vaginalis or E. coli or Chlamydia to take over.] 

- L. rhamnosus is a powerful immune stimulator. It can increase the natural killing activity of spleen cells, which may help to prevent tumor formation. It boosts the ability of the body to destroy foreign invaders and other harmful matter by three times normal activity; and has been shown to increase circulating antibody levels by six to
eight times.

- L. plantarum has the ability to eliminate thousands of species of pathogenic bacteria. It also has extremely high adherence potential for epithelial tissue and seems to favor colonizing the same areas of the intestinal tract that E. coli prefers—in effect, serving to crowd E. coli out of the body. At one time, plantarum was a major part of our diets (found in sourdough bread, sauerkraut, etc.), but is now virtually nowhere to be found.

- Other important friendly bacteria you might find in a good formula include: Streptococcus thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, and L. casei.

- Much has been written about the properties of the soil-based bacteria such as: Bacillus subtilis, L. sporogenes, and B. laterosporus. For many people, they can produce a powerful boost to the immune system. But, in certain circumstances, they may become toxic. It's hard to argue with the great results that many people have had using formulations that contain these cultures. On the other hand, it's possible to get all of the same results using only the "safer" cultures that I've mentioned above.

- Note: a good probiotic formulation will usually contain fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) which help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.[1]

  - One final note: start slowly. When you first start using a probiotic supplement, there is a good chance that you will precipitate a die-off of bad bacteria in your intestinal tract. This can lead to excessive gas and stomach rumblings and cramping
for 10-21 days. Start with one capsule (or even half) for several days. Build up slowly to the recommended dosage for your particular supplement.

>Eating yogurt (unless you make your own) does not really help. First, the bacteria used to make most yogurt (L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) are not the key beneficial bacteria, although they are indeed helpful. (Some brands throw a small amount of acidophilus in after the fact—just so they can put it on the label). Even more important, though, much of the yogurt that you buy in the store is now pasteurized after it is made. Pasteurization before the yogurt culture is introduced is essential to the making of yogurt; but pasteurization after the culture has been allowed to grow is done merely to increase shelf life and totally destroys all the benefits inherent in the yogurt.

>A diet high in complex carbohydrates such as fruits, grains, and vegetables promotes the growth of bifidobacteria in the large intestine.

>And of course, drinking chlorinated water, or eating meats or dairy produced with antibiotics, totally defeats any program you're on.

[1 For some of these bacteria, such as the Bifidus, FOS can increase their effectiveness by a factor of 1,000 times or more!! ]

Chapter 3 INTESTINAL CLEANSING, DETOXIFICATION, AND REBUILDING

Chapter 3

INTESTINAL CLEANSING,
DETOXIFICATION, AND REBUILDING



  There is an old saying that "death begins in the colon." This is an oversimplification to be sure, but more accurate than not. In fact, the road to health begins with Intestinal cleansing and detoxification—no matter what the disease or problem.

  Unfortunately, most people confine their understanding of intestinal cleansing to its effect on fecal matter. And while it is true that cleansing programs do draw old fecal matter out of the colon, limiting the discussion to fecal matter misses the big picture.

  Understand that what we have is essentially a continuous tube from the mouth to the anus, and each part of that tube has a specific function to perform. Among these are:

  Digestion of the food we eat.

 Transferring the nutritional value of that food into the body.

  Processing the waste from that food and eliminating it from the
body.

  Serving as a drain pipe for waste produced as a result of metabolic functions within the body itself.

  Serving as a drain for toxic substances absorbed through our lungs and skin, etc.

  Functioning as a first line of defense in the body's immune system by identifying and eliminating viruses and unhealthy bacteria ingested with our food.

  Any program of Intestinal Cleansing, Detoxification, and Rebuilding must address all of these aspects. Specifically, it must serve to:

  Remove all old fecal matter and waste from the colon (to clear the drain, if you will).

  Remove all the heavy metals and drug residues that have accumulated in the body as a result of having your drain plugged.

  Strengthen the colon muscle so that it works again.

  Repair any damage such as herniations and inflammations of the colon and small intestine.

  Eliminate the presence of polyps and other abnormal growths that have been allowed to flourish because of an unhealthy intestinal environment.

  Rebuild and replenish the various friendly bacteria cultures that ideally should line virtually every square inch of that tube—from mouth to anus.

The Problem

  In 1985, between 60 and 70 million Americans were affected by digestive disorders. Today it's close to 100 million. In fact, digestive disorders are responsible for over 50 million physician
visits and more hospitalizations than any other category of medical problems in the United States today. The total cost to the American public for all aspects of digestive disease is well
over $100,000,000,000.00 per year.

What Digestive Diseases?

 Constipation and the attendant symptoms of self-toxification

Diverticular disease (herniations of the colon)

Hemorrhoids

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn's Disease

Colon/Rectal Cancer

Other Related Diseases

  It is worth noting that many other diseases that at first glance appear to have no connection with the digestive tract have actually been related by many doctors to functional bowel disorder.
These include: Diabetes, Gall Stones, Kidney Stones, Gout, Hypertension, Varicose Veins, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Obesity.

Parasites!

  As if that were not enough, it has been estimated that as many as 80% of all Americans are afflicted
with intestinal parasites.[1]
 Symptoms include nervousness, grinding of the teeth at night,
aches and pains that move from place to place in the body, mimicked appendicitis, ulcers and various digestive pain, nausea or diarrhea, itching, acne, foul breath, furred tongue, jaundice, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, and insomnia.

Candida

  And finally, more and more doctors are becoming aware of how endemic yeast infections such as Candida Albicans are. Symptoms include chronic fatigue (especially after eating), depression,
bloating, gas, cramps, chronic diarrhea or constipation, rectal itching, allergies, severe PMS, impotence, memory loss, severe mood swings, recurrent fungal infections (such as athlete's foot),
extreme sensitivity to chemicals (perfumes, smoke, odors, etc.), and lightheadedness or drunkenness after minimal wine, beer, or sugar.

But It's Even Worse 

  The situation is serious. Diseases of the digestive system have reached an all time high in the United States and are still on the rise. The number one cancer among men and women combined is colon/rectal cancer.

  According to the Merck Manual (the medical industry's standard text for the diagnosis and treatment of disease), the incidence of diverticulosis has increased dramatically over the last 40 years. It has gone from 10% of the adult population over the age of 45 who had this disease (according to an early 1950's edition) to an astounding, "every person has many" in the 1992 edition.
In other words, virtually 100% of all American adults will eventually have diverticulosis of the large intestine if they live long enough.

Why?

  Our modern lifestyle has taken its toll on our digestive/elimination organs. Refined, processed, low fiber foods, animal fats, a lack of exercise, and an ever increasing level of stress all contribute to our current gastro-intestinal health crisis.

[*1: Many health professionals would dispute this number, calling it far too high. And if you limit your discussion of parasites to things such as tape worms and Chinese liver flukes, they are correct. But the fact is, as soon as you open up to the true nature of the problem and begin including the lesser known, but far more prevalent, parasites such as Demodex human and Fasciolopsis buskii, the 80% figure begins to fall into line. And then if you include E. coli and Candida overgrowths (both of which fit the dictionary definition of a parasite: any organism that grows

and feeds in another while contributing nothing in return), then the 80% figure is decidedly conservative.]

  Consider that a sluggish bowel can retain pounds of old toxic and poisonous fecal matter (10-20 pounds is not unusual, and up to 65 pounds has actually been reported). Many times the real cause behind sickness and disease is this retention and reabsorption of built-up toxic waste.
  There has been a great misconception among the public and most medical professionals about
how often a normal healthy person should move their bowels. For years, doctors have thought
that anywhere between one bowel movement a day and one a week was normal. What we have
learned is that it is normal, and necessary, to have one bowel movement a day for each meal you
eat. (If you eat three meals, you should have three bowel movements the next day.)

Toxic Lymph

  Think for a moment, if you will, of your colon as your body's drain pipe—the drain that removes waste from your body. If the drain is clogged, not only will waste not be eliminated, but when you flush the toilet, the drain backs up and spills over.

  And that's exactly the point which leads us to a discussion of waste removal from the body and the lymph system.

  The lymph vessels comprise a network of capillaries which filter blood impurities; they contain a clear, colorless fluid (lymph). Lymph passes from capillaries to lymph vessels and flows through
lymph nodes that are located along the course of these vessels. Cells of the lymph nodes phagocytize, or ingest, such impurities as bacteria, old red blood cells, and toxic and cellular waste.
Lymph fluid can also collect other impurities such as heavy metals and pesticides and drug residues stored in bodily tissue. Once loaded with toxic waste, the compromised lymph must exit your body.

  What can't be eliminated in your urine must pass out through your colon. What do you think happens to all this waste if the plumbing is plugged or sluggish? Is it any wonder we get sick and keep on getting sicker?

Probiotics

We're going to be discussing probiotics in detail in the next chapter, but for now, it's worth noting their importance in maintaining not only intestinal health, but overall health. Our intestinal tract contains thousands of billions of bacteria—all microscopic in size—and yet, because of their sheer numbers, their total weight is close to 3 1/2 pounds in the average adult. Approximately 1/3
of the dry weight of our fecal matter is composed of bacteria—living and dead, harmful and beneficial. A major indicator of the state of our health, both intestinal and overall, is in the composition
of those bacteria.

What Can Be Done?

  Any program designed to clean, detoxify, and rebuild the colon needs to address several key areas. The program must:

  Help bring the colon back to life by stimulating the muscle movement of the colon.

Encourage matter to move forward through the system.


Halt putrefaction.

  Draw old fecal matter off the walls of the colon and out of any bowel pockets.

  Disinfect.

  Draw out poisons and toxins.

  Help leach out heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

  Remove chemicals and drug residues.

  Even remove radioactive material such as Strontium 90.

  Soothe and promote the healing of the mucous membrane lining of the entire digestive tract.

  Help stimulate the body to begin the healing and repair of  herniated areas.

  Increase the flow of bile to help clean the gall bladder, bile ducts,  and liver.
  
  Promote healthy intestinal flora.

  Destroy and expel parasites.

  Destroy Candida albicans overgrowth.

  Maintain regularity.

  Decrease straining.

  Speed up the transit time of feces through the large intestine.

  Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies in the intestinal  tract.

  Once you look at the requirements of a good intestinal program,  it's easy to see that no one formula or magic pill can accomplish it  all.

  Summary

  The foundation of any health or healing program must begin with the intestinal tract—not necessarily because it is inherently more important than any other system or organ in the body, but because it's the area of the body upon which we focus our greatest abuse, and because it impacts  virtually every other system in the body. This point is so important that it's worth reviewing the
core issues that we've covered in this chapter.

  1. The colon is the main elimination channel of the body. It is the  means by which we eliminate the toxic waste of the digestive 
 process, including massive amounts of E. coli bacteria and parasite  larvae. If that waste hangs around longer than necessary, its impact  on the body is profound. And yet, because of dietary and health  habits, the average American stores, on average, between
 10-20 pounds of old (sometimes decades old) fecal matter in  their  colons. I personally know of people who, while on a colon  cleansing program, have passed the coins they had swallowed, or  the multi-colored waxes  of the crayons they had eaten when they  were children, over 50 years ago.

  2. The liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body. It filters out  dangerous drug residues and poisons from the blood and passes  them out of the body—through the colon via the bile duct. Plug the  colon and it's like flushing a toilet plugged with toilet paper;  everything backs up. The net result is sickness and disease. The  important point to remember here is that you can't even begin to  cleanse and repair the other systems in the body until you clean
 out the colon so that the toxic material will have a clean path out of  the body.

  3. Physically, the colon is not designed to store large amounts of  old fecal matter. There just isn't room for it. If you have 10, 20, 30  pounds of extra garbage in there, there's only one thing that can  happen; the colon must distend and expand.
 This causes the walls of the colon to thin out (like blowing up a  balloon more and more). As the walls extend out, they press on  and compress other organs in the abdominal cavity.

  4. Old fecal matter is an ideal breeding ground for harmful  bacteria and dangerous parasites.

  5. Intestinal flora are an essential part of health. If you eat foods  laced with antibiotics and drink water with chlorine in it, you  eliminate virtually all beneficial bacteria—providing an absolutely  open environment for the proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as  E. coli.

  6. Your intestinal tract is the source of all nutrient access to your  body. If it isn't working properly, you have two major problems.

  >First, you have a hard time digesting food properly—breaking it  down sufficiently so that your body can use it.

  >And then, even if you can digest it properly, if the intestinal wall  is covered with hardened waste and colonies of hostile bacteria/  flora, you'll end up absorbing only a fraction of the nutritional  value of the food you eat.

  The bottom line is that any program we design to improve our  health or to eliminate disease from our bodies must begin with  Intestinal Cleansing, Detoxification, and Rebuilding.
 It is the "sine qua non"[1*] of health.

  General Recommendations

 What is required is a four-pronged approach. 

  A probiotic formula to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria    colonies in the intestinal tract.

  A good source of fiber to compensate for all of the fiberless  processed foods, meat, and dairy that we eat.

 [1*:  Literally, "Without which, there is not."]

   The best single source of fiber in the world is ground organic          flaxseed meal. One and a half tablespoons in the morning and  evening with juice will keep you regular and also provide you with  the best single source of Omega-3 oils in the world. In addition,  the sulfur-rich proteins present in the seeds work hand in hand with  the Omega-3 oils to literally reverse mutated cells and cancer in  the body.

  For some people, a good probiotic formula alone will serve to wake up their colon and get it working again. Most people, however will need a stimulating herbal colonactivator formula that provides both cleansing and healing to the entire gastrointestinal
system (at least until their colons rebuild).

  Look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Cape  Aloe, Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Barberry Rootbark, Ginger Root, African Bird Pepper, and Fennel.

  This formula will serve as an intestinal detoxifier to loosen and draw out old fecal matter, waste, and toxins. It will stimulate peristalsis (the muscular movement of the colon). It will also halt putrefaction, disinfect, and soothe and heal the mucous membrane lining of your entire digestive tract. It will also help improve digestion, relieve gas and cramps, increase the flow of bile (which in turn cleans the gall bladder, bile ducts, and liver), destroy Candida albicans overgrowth, and promote a healthy intestinal flora, destroy and expel intestinal parasites, and increase
gastrointestinal circulation.

  Periodically (approximately every 3 months), you will need a strong purifier and intestinal vacuum to help draw old fecal matter off the walls of your colon and out of any bowel pockets and to also draw out poisons, toxins, heavy metals (such as mercury and lead), and even remove radioactive material such as Strontium 90 from your body. Such a formula will also remove over 2,000 known drug residues.

Look for a formula that contains all organic herbs such as: Apple Fruit Pectin, pharmaceutical grade Montmorillonite Clay, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Marshmallow Root, Fennel Seed, Activated Willow Charcoal, and psyllium seeds and husks.

  The natural mucilaginous properties of this formula will soften old hardened fecal matter for easy removal and also make it an excellent remedy for any inflammation or irritation in the stomach and intestines. This formula is helpful in irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids.

  And on top of everything else, this formula will eliminate the effects of food poisoning or stomach flu in 20-40 minutes!

  Regular use of this four-part program will help keep your  body in optimal health and vitality for as long as you live.