by Dr. Gloria Gilbčre, N.D., DAHom., Ph.D.
These days the word "biological"
makes us sit up and take notice.
When biological is referenced
with weapons of mass destruction,
it refers to harmful bacteria
being used to destroy life (anti-life).
Nonetheless, when biological bacteria is
referred to in a common term as "probiotic," it
simply means to support life and health (for life).
The word probiotic was coined in the mid-
1970s, referring to lactobacteria and other bacteria
products that assist the host (you) by
promoting health.
These and other bacteria produce lactic acid,
thereby considered "beneficial" bacteria.
In order for oral ingestion to be effective, the
bacteria must first survive the stomach's strong
acids along with the alkaline environment of
the small intestine. Many probiotics are not
equipped to survive either of these pH
conditions.
In 1891 Sir Frederick Grant Banting, a
Canadian physiologist, professor and one of the
principal discoverers of insulin, realized the
strength of stomach acid when he identified the
path insulin travels from the pancreas to the
bloodstream. Insulin, in order to be effective, had
to be injected directly into the muscle, bypassing
the strong stomach acid.
Likewise, when beneficial bacteria are taken
orally, they have to be of hardy strains in order to
survive these stomach acids.
The colon contains between three and four
pounds of microorganisms, comprised of more
than 400 varieties including fungi, viruses, bacteria
and others. In a healthy intestinal terrain
they function together in friendly coexistence,
completing the digestion process and producing
vitamins and controlling infection. This terrain
balance is extremely fragile and easily unbalanced.
Beneficial microorganisms actually
adhere to the intestinal walls and vagina and prevent
disease-causing bacteria from taking hold.
When invading bacteria encounter regions
where beneficial bacterial are plentiful, the
“unfriendly” bacteria simply pass through
without actually setting up housekeeping. This
occurs because the beneficial bacteria consume
all the food reserves, therefore, making it inhospitable
to unwanted guests (unfriendly, diseasecausing
bacteria).
Common Ways Beneficial Bacteria are Destroyed:
- Long-term constipation
- Diarrhea
- Oral contraceptives
- Excessive sugar consumption
- Harsh laxatives
- Long-term use of enemas or colonics
- Antibiotics (which destroy “good” and “bad” bacteria)
- Prednisone therapy
- Cortisone therapy
- Antihistamines
- Aspirin
- Commercial food processing (destroys beneficial organisms)
- Food preservatives, additives
When the unfriendly bacteria outnumber the
friendly bacteria, the intestinal terrain is in
trouble. At this juncture one may experience
stomach pains, bloating, excessive gas, headaches,
allergies, acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion and
skin conditions. This illustration validates why
many cases of stomach distress suddenly appear
after a course of antibiotics or drugs—the "bad"
bacteria are "quieted" by the antibiotic. However,
it has been my professional experience that if the
"friendly" bacteria are not replenished immediately
after the incident that caused their destruction,
the immune system is weakened
substantially and is now primed for infection or
manifestations of illness yet to be determined.
It never ceases to amaze me that patients will
ask their medical doctor for the "quick fix" of an
antibiotic for every little sniffle and then be distraught
when six to eight weeks later another
infection exhibits its ugly symptoms. If quality
probiotics are introduced immediately after the
course of antibiotic therapy and continued, in
my opinion, for 60 days, we can again rebalance
the intestinal terrain to protect us (a type of natural
health insurance).
Health Blueprint:
- 70 million Americans are victims of digestive disorders
- The intestinal tract is the foundation of health
- The intestinal tract is a self-contained bio-system
- Probiotics reinforce intestinal integrity
- By four days of age, our digestive system is loaded with bacteria
- There are more bacteria in our digestive system than cells in our body
- The colon alone contains trillions of bacterial cells
- Bacterial cells are classified in one of five hundred typesˇŞboth health enhancing and health destroying
- ”The goat is the healthiest domestic animal known. It's milk is superior to cow's milk“ (Journal of the American Medical Association)
- The human G.I. tract ideally contains 85 percent “friendly” bacteria, 15 percent “unfriendly.”
As a doctor, recovered victim of a life-threatening
digestive disorder, and researcher, I insist on a
probiotic formula that excels in building a
strong intestinal foundation. If that formula's
derivative is fresh goat's milk, the consumer
gets more healing power because it also contains
naturally occurring vitamins, minerals,
trace minerals, enzymes and proteins. Since it
is well known that goat milk products are
better tolerated by those with compromised
digestive and elimination systems, more of my
clients respond well to goat based probiotics
than any other. The following conditions and
syndromes benefit greatly from a goat milk
based probiotic, especially when the product is
free of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or
growth hormones.
Crohn's disease
Colitis
Leaky gut syndrome
Irritable bowel
Diverticulitis
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Inflammatory disorder
Immune system disorder
Bladder infections
Vaginal yeast infections
Chronic ear infections
Chronic sinus infections
I also recommend a probiotic with multiple
strains, preferably the following:
Lactobacillus acidophilus: The most wellknown
lactic acid bacteria and a necessary
inhabitant of the intestinal tract. It produces
enzymes such as protease, lipase and lactase
(for digesting proteins, fats and lactose, respectively);
the natural antibiotic acidophilin; and
inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Lactobacillus casei: The most potent of all
Lactobacillus strains; produces lactic acid that
aids in the digestion of carbohydrates.
Bifidobacterium longum: A potent cleanser
of the body and strengthener of the immune
system; has been known to assist in reduction
of cholesterol levels.
Lactobacillus bulgaricus: A natural producer
of lactic acid, it contains natural antibiotic
properties and is an immune system enhancer.
Streptococcus thermophilus: This strain is
often used in yogurt and kefir. It contains antitumor
and anticarcinogenic properties. It
assists in digestion of milk sugar and contains
natural antibiotic properties.
It is also important to know the probiotic
count of beneficial microorganisms. I insist on
a probiotic that contains CFUs (colony
forming units) in the billions, not millions, per
serving. The probiotic made from fresh goat's
milk that I use and recommend is one of the
stronger ones on the market, containing 24
billion CFUs per serving. Just as important is
its ability to implant in most colonic environments.
It performs best in acidic conditions,
common to Western diets and digestive
disorders.
Why Insist on Pesticide, Hormone,
and Antibiotic Free Probiotics?
Because the residue of these chemicals is stored
in the human body, mostly in the soft and connective
tissues. The recent approval by the FDA
of the use of BGH (bovine growth hormone) by
dairy farmers to increase their milk production
only worsens the already alarming rates of disorders,
not limited to digestive disorders.
BGH causes an increase in the insulin-like
growth factor (IGF-1) in the milk of treated
cows. IGF-1 is so strong that it survives pasteurization
and human intestinal digestion. It
is directly absorbed into the human bloodstream,
especially in infants. It is thought that
IGF-1 promotes the transformation of human
breast cells to cancerous forms and is also a
growth factor for existing cancerous breast and
colon cancer cells—promoting their progression
and invasiveness.
These growth hormones are so dangerous
because we, as consumers, absorb the BGH
directly from the milk, which causes further
IGF-1 production by our own cells.
To make matters worse, BGH decreases the
cow's body fat. Since the cow's body fat is
already contaminated with a wide variety of
carcinogens, pesticides, dioxin and antibiotic
residues, when the cow's body fat is reduced,
these toxic substances are then transported
into the cow's milk and consumed by a uninformed
public.
Why Goat Milk Probiotics?
Because goat's milk is most like human milk in
composition and therefore, is easily digested, it
is the most widely consumed milk in the world
and possesses numerous health benefits. Our
bodies can digest a goat milk product in just 20
minutes; conversely, it takes two to three hours
to digest cow's milk or cow's milk products.
According to the American Journal of
Medicine, “Goat's milk is the most complete
food known.” It contains vitamins, minerals,
electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein
and fatty acids utilized by our bodies with ease.
The high nutritional quality and the
greater ease of digestion of goat milk is what
make it so effective in the prevention and
reversal of disease.
The secret of goat milk products lies in its
dual natural ability to be half-cleansing and
half-building, a perfect blueprint on which to
design health naturally.
To locate a retailer of quality goat milk probiotics
and other goat milk products and whole
food nutritionals used and recommended by
Dr. Gilbčre, contact Mt. Capra Products tollfree
at 1-866-682-2772, extension #1 or visit
their Web site at: www.mtcapra.com
Dr. Gloria Gilbčre is a
doctor of naturopathy and
natural medicine, diplomate
of The Academy of
Homeopathy, member of the
American Academy of
Environmental Medicine,
The American Naturopathic
Medical Association, Cancer Prevention Coalition
International, board member for Fibromyalgia Coalition
International, medical advisor for Library of Health and talk
show host of “Health by Design Naturally with Dr.
G., Your Architect for Health.” She is an environmental
health consultant, medical writer and
researcher.
She maintains a global clientele via telephone
and at both of her health centers in northern
Idaho. She is internationally respected as an
authoritative influence in the discovery of the
causes, effects and drug-free solutions for leaky gut
syndrome and chemically induced immune system
disorders. She can be reached at 1-208-267-5417
(9A.M.-4P.M. Pacific Time).
She is author of I Was Poisoned by My Body
(Lucky Press, 2001), Invisible Illnesses (Freedom
Press, 2002) and her latest book Nature's
Prescription Milk (Freedom Press, 2002).
Listen to her weekly Web radio show on
www.healthylife.net or visit her Web site
www.drgloriagilbere.com
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