Antibiotics, miracle drug or poison ?


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ANTI-biotics or PRO-biotics, miracle drug or poison ? page 2.



Probiotics !
The Friendly Bacteria

Inside each of us live vast numbers of bacteria without which we could not remain in good health. Before looking at the amazing things they do, reflect on just how many of them we house.

There are several thousand billion in each person (more than all the cells in the body) divided into four hundred species, most of them living in the digestive tract. If they were all placed together the total weight of this "friendly" bacteria would
come to nearly four pounds and, in fact, about a third of the fecal matter (water removed) which you pass consists of dead or viable bacteria.

The Role of Friendly Bacteria in Health.

These bacteria are not parasites. They do not just take up residence and do nothing in return, but perform many important functions in the body. We live in true symbiosis with them. As long as we provide them with a reasonable diet and as long as they
remain in good health, these bacteria provide excellent service in return.

However, not all of the friendly bacteria perform the same functions, some being far more useful and plentiful than others. These are the ones presented here. Certain bacteria help to maintain good health while others have a definite value in helping us
regain health once it has been upset.

These dual protective and therapeutic roles help explain why the word "probiotics" was coined since it means "for life" :



They manufacture some of the B Vitamins including niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid, and biotin.
They manufacture the milk-digesting enzyme lactase which helps digest dairy products
They actively produce antibacterial substances which kill or deactivate hostile disease-causing bacteria. They do this by changing the local levels of acidity, by depriving pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria of their nutrients, or by actually
producing their own antibiotic substances which can kill invading bacteria, viruses, and yeasts. Naturally enough they are doing this to preserve "their" territory.
Some bacteria (such as bifidobacteria and acidophilus) have been shown to have powerful anticarcinogenic features which are active against certain tumors.
They improve the efficiency of the digestive tract - when they are weakened, bowel function is poor.
The effectively help to reduce high cholesterol levels
They play an important part of the development of a baby's digestive function and immune system. Bifidobacteria infantis is aquired from breast milk. When it is in poor supply allergies and malabsorption problems are more common.
They help protect against radiation damage and deactivate many toxic pollutants.
They help to recycle estrogen (a female hormone) which reduces the likelihood of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis
Therapeutically they have been shown to be useful in the treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, allergies, migraine, gout (by reducing uric acid levels), rheumatic and arthritic conditions, cystitis, candidiasis, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and
some forms of cancer.
Types of Friendly Bacteria

Of the friendly bacteria which help the human body most are the residents, while the others are transient visitors, staying in your digestive tract for a few weeks before passing on. The principle forms of friendly bacteria are :

Lactobacillus Acidophilus

This is the main inhabitant of the small intestine in humans and animals. It is also found in the mouth and vagina. Acidophilus manufactures lactase to digest milk sugar and produces lactic acid which suppresses undesirable bacteria and yeasts. Some
strains produce natural antibiotics. They also lower cholesterol levels and kill candida yeasts, and are very susceptible to poor diet and stress conditions, pollution, and antibiotics such as penicillin.

Lactobacillus Bulgaricus

This is a transient but very important bacteria. Together with Streptococcus thermophilus it makes yogurt. Some strains of bulgaricus and thermophilus also produce antibiotics which kill harmful bacteria. By manufacturing lactic acid these bacteria
encourage a good environment for the resident bacteria such as acidophilus and the bifidobacteria.

Bifidobacterium Bifidum and Bifidobacteriumlongum

These are the main inhabitants of the large intestine. Bifidobacterium Bifidum is also found in the vagina and the lower part of the small intestine. In breastfed infants and adolescents these make up 99% of the entire flora of the bowel. There is strong
evidence that the numbers and efficient working of these bacteria decline as a person ages and with any decline in our health status.

The bacteria produce a number of specialized acids and use these to prevent colonization of the large intestine by invading bacteria, yeasts and some viruses. They also prevent potential toxicity from nitrites in food and manufacture B Vitamins as well
as helping detoxify bile from which they recycle estrogen in women.

Bifidobacteria Infantis

This is the main inhabitant of every infant's intestines and is found in small amounts in the vagina. It's functions are very much the same as the other bifidobacteria. In a freeze-dried form it is the only probiotic product which should be supplemented
to infants without professional guidance.

What Damages the Friendly Bacteria ?

Many factors influence just how healthy the flora are. While the type of friendly bacteria living in a region may seem much the same in health and disease, the tasks they perform change according to circumstances. For example, when bifidobacteria are in
a good state of health they will detoxify pollutants and carcinogens as well as manufacture various B Vitamins. When in a poor state of health, however, they just cannot do these jobs as well or at all.

What Makes Friendly Bacteria Function Less Efficiently ?

The level of local acidity is one major influence upon the function of the friendly bacteria and this is contributed to by diet, digestive function, and stress. Another important influence is the speed of peristalsis (the wavelike contraction of the
intestines) which moves food along the digestive tract. If it is too rapid (as in diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis) this severely reduces the efficiency of the flora. If it is too slow (as in atonic or spastic constipation) this too causes
changes in their function.

The type of diet you eat is a major influence on bacterial health. The bacteria are healthier on a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and low in animal fats, fatty meat, sugars, and cultured dairy products (especially "
live" yogurt and cottage cheese). Not surprisingly, the diet which is best for people is also ideal for healthy bacteria.

They are also influenced to a major extent by the degree of infection by yeasts and bacteria to which the bowel is subjected. Certain drugs, especially antibiotics, can severely upset this delicate balance (penicillin will kill friendly bacteria just as
efficiently as it will kill disease-causing bacteria). Steroids (hormonal drugs such as cortisone, ACTH, prednisone, and birth control pills) also cause great damage to the bowel flora.

Damaged friendly bacteria can regain health and efficiency by dealing with any of the factors listed above, especially diet and stress reduction, and by supplementing good quality freeze-dried bacteria such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus or Lactobacillus
Bulgaricus. The way the products are made is important :

When being seperated from the "soup" in which they are cultured, some manufacturers spin the bacteria in a centrifuge. This damages the delicate chains of bacteria, which does not happen when a slower (and therefore more expensive) filtration process is
used. This information should be on the container.
It is preferable to take the friendly bacteria as a powder, as similar damage can occur if the bacteria are in a capsule or tablet form. The bacteria should be stored in a dark glass (never plastic) container.
Viable cultures of the particular bacteria you want, which are capable of recolonizing the intestines, as a rule need to be refrigerated after the opening of their container. They should not be taken at meal times to avoid the extreme acidity of the
stomach when it has food in it.
All good products should carry a guarantee of viable colonizing bacteria up to a specific expiration date.
Only a very few brands of friendly bacteria meet all these requirements.
When to Use Probiotic Supplements

Probiotics may be used in the following cases :

Under professional guidance if there are chronic bowel problems or ongoing infections such as candidiasis.
As a preventive against food poisoning when travelling (bifidobacteria and acidophilus kill most food poisoning bacteria)
By all premenopausal and menopausal women to reduce chances of osteoporosis
By anyone with high cholesterol problems
By anyone with chronic health problems (acne, skin problems, allergies, arthritis, cancer, ect...) under professional guidance
By anyone receiving radiation treatment
By anyone having reccurent vaginal or bladder infections (thrush or cystitis) Bifidobacteria Infantis should be given to all babies.
Which Bacteria Can the Friendly Flora Control ?

Many studies prove the antibiotic effects of the friendly bacteria.
In nineteen cases of non-specific infection of the vagina treated with acidophilus (doderlein bacillus strain) 95% were cured.
In twenty five cases of Monilia vaginitis 88% were cured and 12% relieved of symptoms. In 444 cases of trychomas vaginitis 92% were cured and remained infection free up to a year later.
The cidophilin antibiotic which Lactobacillus acidophilus produces will kill 50% of twenty seven different disease causing bacteria.
Sixteen children with salmonella poisoning and fifteen with shigella infections were cleared of all symptoms using acidophilus. Bifidobacterium Bifidum effectively kills or controls E. coli. Straphylococcus Aureus (cause of toxic shock syndrome), and
shigella. Acidophilus can also control viruses such as herpes.
Breast Milk and the Health of Intestinal Flora

German research shows that the state of the intestinal flora in most breastfed babies today is similar to that of formula fed babies forty years ago. The result is malabsorption and food sensitivity problems as well as increase in allergies and
susceptibility to infection. Further research has pointed to contamination of breast milk with pollutants such as DDT and dioxin. This suggests that supplementation of all babies with Bifidobacteria Infantis may be a helpful strategy.


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Antibiotics !


ANTI-biotics or PRO-biotics, miracle drug or poison ? http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/probiotics.html#bios


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ANTI-biotics, miracle drug or poison ?


Antibiotics !

The discovery of penicillin in 1928 ushered in one of the greatest changes in modern medical history - the antibiotic era. The apparent results brought about by this new drug, and those that followed, thoroughly convinced physicians that infectious
diseases might someday be wiped out. Indeed, antibiotics were dubbed "magic bullets" because of their seemingly precise action on the bacterial invaders that contributed to so much disease. But realities of the human condition coupled with the tenacity
of the microbes has tempered such enthusiasm. The promise of antibiotics is fading as problems surface on a variety of fronts. Resistant bacteria, immune suppression, yeast colonization, superinfection, overuse and misapplication of antibiotics (
including antibiotics ingested in meat and poultry), and the reemergence of diseases such as tuberculosis (once nearly iradicated from industrialized countries), have caused doctors to take a new look at these "miracle" drugs.
Inappropriate use of Antibiotics :

Destruction of Friendly Bacteria.

The human body is home to hundreds of billions of bacteria, many of which are vital for optimum health. It is a delicately balanced system much like the rain forests of this planet. Bifidobacteria in the large intestine, and acidophilus in the small
intestine and vagina protect against infection by yeast and bacteria. Likewise, "friendly" bacteria found on the skin protect against bacterial, yeast and fungal infections. Overuse of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics as well as steroid
drugs (such as "the pill"), can seriously disrupt the normal ecology of the body and render anyone more susceptible to subsequent bacterial, yeast, viral and parasitic infection.

Yeast Overgrowth

Yeast overgrowth is a common side effect of antibiotic use. Women who use antibiotics often develop bowel and vaginal yeast infections. Children treated repeatedly with antibiotics for ear infections often develop yeast and fungal infections of the
middle ear.

Nutrient Loss

Antibiotics can contribute to nutrient loss. By disrupting the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut, antibiotics can adversely influence the availability of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Vitamin A, and Folic Acid. Zinc and magnesium can also be
lost. When antibiotics cause diarrhea, the loss of these nutrients can be significant.

Immune Suppression

Antibiotics can, in some cases, hinder the immune response. For example, children given amoxicillin for chronic earaches suffer two to six times the rate of recurrent middle ear effusion than children who took a placebo. According to Carol Jessop, MD,
Clinical Professor at the University of California at San Francisco, 80% of her patients who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (or chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome) had a history of recurrent antibiotics treatment as a child, adolescent or
adult.

Development of Food Allergies

Antibiotics can contribute to the development of food intolerance. According to Leo Galland, MD, " It's no accident that the most allergic generation in history has been raised on antibiotics. Several times a week I see a new patient whose allergies
appeared or became much worse after a course of antibiotics."

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Bacteria resistant to antibiotics is a rapidly emerging problem with potentially disastrous consequences. In 1941, only 40,000 units per day of penicillin for four days was required to "cure" pneumococcal pneumonia. "Today, a patient could receive 24
million units of penicillin a day and die of pneumococcal meningitis." Strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that are resistant to penicillin also have decreased susceptibility to broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotics.

A similar situation exists with regard to other antibiotics. Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium responsible for ear infections, sinusitis, epiglottitis, and meningitis. In 1986, roughly 32 % of the strains of this bacterium were resistant to
ampicillin, the drug most commonly used against it. In Barcelona, Spain, 50 % of H. influenzae type B are resistant to five or more antibiotics, including chloralphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the most commonly used alternatives to
ampicillin.

Antibiotic resistance also knows no age boundaries. The bacterium E. coli is a common cause of bladder infection in men and women. In the United States, roughly 40 % of the strains of E. coli isolated from the urine of geriatric units were resistant to
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. In a recent outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia in a day care center, carriers of a penicillin-resistant strain of the bacteria were more likely to have received preventive antibiotics for recurrent ear infections.

Overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics have led to the current crisis. According to Michell L. Cohen of the Centers for Disease Control, "Unless currently effective antimicrobial agents can be successfully preserved and the transmission of drug-
resistant organisims curtailed, the post antibiotic era may be rapidly approaching in which infectious disease wards housing untreatable conditions will again be seen.

There are many ways to improve immune function so that the use of antibiotics can be reduced or eliminated. By addressing diet, nutritional status, lifestyle, hygene, genetic uniqueness, environmental and psychological factors, such as mood and stress,
one can improve resistance to disease and minimize the chance that invading microbes will gain a foothold.

Enhancing Immune Function :

The immune system is a barometer of health - and any return to a healthy state should involve immune enhancement. There are many influences on this defense mechanism.

Diet and Nutrition

In 1991, 104 children with chronic ear infections were tested for allergies to foods. Seventy eight percent tested positive for one or more foods. After removing the offending foods for eleven weeks, 70 of the 81 children experienced significant
improvement.

Children with severe measles are susceptible to complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, croup, diarrhea (all commonly treated with antibiotics), and death. When such children were supplemented with Vitamin A, the rate of complications was cut in
half.

Environment

Exposure to foreign chemicals can also diminish resistance to infection. In a study reported in Pediatrics (1992), 92 pregnant women had their amniotic fluid analyzed for toxic metals. A toxic risk score was calculated based on the number and amount of
metals present. When the children were assessed at age three, those with the highest toxic risk scores were found to have experienced more infections (of the ear, nose, throat, and other areas), and more illness in general than those with low scores. In
another study, mercury amalgam fillings were found to trigger the development of bacterial resistance to several common antibiotics.

Lifestyle

Those who lead a sedentary life are often predisposed to respiratory infection. When sedentary women with a history of respiratory infection simply began walking for 45 minutes each day, their rate of respiratory infection dropped dramatically.

Mood, Mind and Stress

Psychological factors have a significant impact on resistance to disease. A study conducted at Harvard Medical School found that in people who harbored the strep bacteria in their throats, one half of those under high stress actually became sick compared
with only one fifth of those under low stress.

By addressing these and other primary factors about the way people live, doctors could sharply curtail their reliance upon antibiotics while simultaneously achieving their goal - to build immunity and direct their patients back toward health.

Natural and Herbal Medicine for Immune Enhancement

Practitioners of alternative medicine or other forms of natural therapeutics already possess an arsenal of methods and substances that are helpful in promoting healing from infection.

There are numerous herbs useful in the care of infections. Some are directly antibacterial or antiviral while others are immune potentiators. Some herbs do both. Examples include Goldenseal, Licorice, Garlic, reishi and shiitake mushrooms, and echinacea.
Of these, echinacea and garlic are among the most widely used, extensively researched, and effective of all immune-building plants.

Essential Oils and Homeopathic Medicine

Essential plant oils useful during various types of infectious illness include Tea Tree Oil, Thyme, Savory, Eucalyptus, Inula, Lavender, Geranium and Citrus Seed extract.

Homeopathy initially gained notoriety in the United States because of it's effectiveness against epidemic infectious diseases. Medicines commonly used during infection include Apis Mel., Arsen Alb., Belladonna, Rhus Tox., Merc Iod., Hepar Sulph.,
Lachesis, and others.

Vitamins and Minerals

Numerous Vitamins and minerals are known to be important in immune function. Among those commonly used to potentiate immune function or promote healing during infection are Zinc, Selenium, Vitamins A-C-E, Beta-carotene, Coenzyme Q10, and B Vitamins.

Probiotics

Supplements such as acidophilus can be used to enhance digestion and reverse many of the negative intestinal effects of prolonged antibiotic therapy. Many doctors also prescribe acidophilus (for the small intestine) and bifidobacteria (for the large
intestine) concurrently whenever antibiotics are prescribed.


http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/probiotics.html#bios


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ANTI-biotics or PRO-biotics, miracle drug or poison ?

Probiotics !
The Friendly Bacteria

http://www.liferesearchuniversal.com/probiotics2.html#bios2

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