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by Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., CNS
PROBIOTICS Support The Colon and Help the Body Produce Its Own Lactic Acid BACTERIA
For more than two decades,
I have studied, written and
spoken about probiotics and
have recommended their use
to thousands. In my book, The
Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet,
I stress the importance of probiotics
to weight reduction.
I believe probiotics are one
of the unsung heroes supporting
good health and a strong immune system. Since the majority
of the immune system’s receptors are located in the GI tract,
mainly the colon, it is plausible that a healthy colon may be an
indicator of a strong immune system.
While studying probiotics, I have learned that not all probiotics
work the same. Some probiotics clearly appear to be better than
others. Why? Let me take a few minutes to explain my beliefs.
First, let me define “probiotics.” Probiotics are described by
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the united Nations
as “microorganisms administered in adequate amounts to
confer a beneficial health effect on the host.” For the purposes
of this discussion, probiotics are synonymous with lactic acid
bacteria, which often are called the “good” bacteria. A healthy
colon should contain a ratio of 85 percent good bacteria to not
more than 15 percent bad bacteria.
The beneficial effects of probiotic use may include—support
of a healthy colon; enhancement of the immune system; synthesized
and enhanced bioavailability of nutrients; improvements
in the consumption of lactose products; support of healthy
bowel movements; and support of healthy cell activity.
The expanding knowledge of probiotics encourages proactive
behavior. I recommend that probiotics become a part of
everyone’s regimen of daily supplements. When seeking good
health and a strong immune system, the use of probiotics may
be without equal.
Much has been said and written about the differences
between probiotic products. It is argued that some probiotic
products contain more colony forming units (CFu) than others
and hence, the former is better than the later. Others suggest
it is the different strains of probiotics in their product that make
their’s better than others. Still others believe that a probiotic
product that also contains prebiotics makes their product better
than others. To an extent, each of these arguments is valid.
A particular level of CFus is required in any “good” probiotic.
And since various strains of probiotics serve different purposes,
several symbiotic strains (i.e., those having a mutually beneficial relationship) in the same product may be beneficial. Further,
synbiotic products (i.e., those containing both a probiotic and
prebiotic ingredient) appear to offer additional health benefits.
I recommend that it might be best to have a single product that
contains adequate levels of CFus, multi-strains of lactic acid
bacteria and a prebiotic ingredient, among other things.
I believe, however, there is one powerful test that must be met
for a probiotic product to be rated as an “excellent” product.
The question I ask is this—when is a probiotic product more
than just a product designed to flood the colon with friendly
bacteria in the hope that some of the bacteria will pass through
the stomach’s acidic barrier and find their way to the colon?
My many years of clinical observation supports my conclusion
that a probiotic is more than just a high CFu lactic acid
bacteria product when it is capable of helping the body support
the gastrointestinal tract, including the colon, and aid in
the body’s production of its own unique strains of lactic acid
bacteria. In other words, when it helps the body maintain a
healthy colon and produce its own lactic acid bacteria. After all,
isn’t using the body’s own capabilities to provide new strength
and vigor one of the best routes to good health? What can be
better than having the body produce its own special, unique
strains of lactic acid bacteria?
Now, the good news! I use such a unique probiotic product
personally and in my practice. The product is known as Dr.
Ohhira’s Probiotics 12 PLUS.
Initial reports from Japan confirm my theory that Dr. Ohhira’s
probiotic supplement is capable of providing intense support
for a healthy colon. Also, since the product is designed to
encourage the body’s health-giving capabilities, it need not be
consumed daily.
Scientists have known for decades that good bacteria adhere
to the colon walls and take up space that otherwise might be
inhabited by pathogenic invaders. This is one of the many
mechanisms of probiotics that has been well established for
many years, dating back to scientific research by Dr. Elie Metchnikoff
who received a Nobel Prize for his work on probiotics
early in the 20th Century.
I believe the ability of the body to
maintain a healthy colon and to produce
its own strains of lactic acid bacteria is
driven by the cohesion of lactic acid bacteria
in the colon, which is then enhanced
by the health-giving activities derived
from additional ingredients present in
Dr. Ohhira’s product.
This combination of ingredients includes
naturally developed prebiotics,
hydrogen peroxide, enzymes, organic
acids, bacteriocins, vitamins, minerals
and amino acids. I believe that only when
these ingredients are present and working
properly in the body is the body able to
reestablish and maintain a healthy colon
and produce its own lactic acid bacteria.
This “self-maintenance” process begs
the question. Why does this process
occur when taking certain probiotic products
but not when taking others?
Dr. Iichiroh Ohhira and his team of
research scientists from Japan have
concluded that the body’s health-giving
capabilities, as they relate to the colon,
are enhanced by the good bacteria delivered
to the colon in the medium (i.e., fermented
paste isolate) in which they were
developed. I agree that the best probiotic
products are those whose ingredients
contain not only several strains of lactic
acid bacteria but also the micronutrient
by-products and other valuable ingredients
naturally developed during a lengthy
fermentation period. The capability of the
body to help itself seems to stem from
the use of products that are fermented
for years rather days, weeks or months.
Let me now focus on some of the wellness
benefits provided by Dr. Ohhira’s
Probiotics 12 PLUS, which is manufactured
in Japan and distributed in the
united States by Essential Formulas. If
you want to study the product in depth,
go to www.EssentialFormulas.com.
The product is named after Dr. Ohhira,
an award-winning microbiologist who
studied at Okayama university. In my
opinion, his probiotic is the most unique
probiotic in the world today. Dr. Ohhira
has dedicated his life to the study of
human bacteria and how to improve
human health by ensuring the presence
of adequate colonies of friendly bacteria
in the colon and elsewhere.
After more than 25 years of thorough
research, Dr. Ohhira concluded that good
health prevails when the friendly bacteria
in the GI tract are properly colonized.
This non-dairy product is the only one i have found that also provides the vast array of
ingredients necessary to aid the body’s efforts to support good health and a strong colon.
He also found that the consumption
and short-term presence of good bacteria
alone does not lead to good health.
Rather a balance between the good and
bad bacteria is necessary.
This beneficial balance, according to
Dr. Ohhira, can only be realized, he argues
by reconditioning the colonic pH. Simply
introducing friendly bacteria in large numbers
will not resolve the situation.
Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics is developed
using 12 strains of lactic acid bacteria,
including what may be the strongest
strain of lactic acid bacteria known to
bacteriologists. It maintains an optimum
pH in the colon so necessary to the maintenance
of a strong and healthy colon. As
we know, a healthy colon enhances the
body’s immune functions and promotes
a healthy balance of friendly bacteria and
other flora in the colon.
This non-dairy product is the only one
I have found that also provides the vast
array of ingredients necessary to aid the
body’s efforts to support good health and
a strong colon. It is important to maintain
a healthy colon so it will continue to
produce its own unique strains of good
bacteria—bacteria not only required to
support a healthy colon and immune
system but also for the support of healthy
liver functions.
Worldwide travelers like the product
because it does not require refrigeration
due to its unique formulation process.
The product is fermented for several
years in a natural temperature environment.
What this means is that as the
environmental conditions change during
spring, summer, fall and winter, the product
alters itself—the weaker bacteria die
and the progeny of the stronger bacteria
become even stronger. With each generation,
the strong bacteria get stronger.
After the all-natural, non-GMO ingredients
are fermented for several years, the
finished product is delivered to a leading
encapsulating firm for final preparation. It
is tested a final time for product purity and
to assure ingredient compliance with rigid
product specifications. The product is
encapsulated in an expensive, high-tech,
enteric-coated capsule to ensure that the
product passes through the stomach and
delivers its ingredients to the colon. Since
the capsule material is composed entirely
of vegetable ingredients, the entire product
may be designated as “vegan.”
In addition to the 12 strains of lactic
acid bacteria used to ferment the product,
ingredients include four strains of organic
acid that help recondition the colon’s pH.
A properly acidic colon is required for
good lactic acid bacteria to thrive while
bad bacteria die.
The fructooligosacharides (FOS) in Dr.
Ohhira’s product are prebiotics naturally
developed during the fermentation process.
FOS provides nutrients to the lactic
acid bacteria during the fermentation
process, while encapsulated and at the
time of delivery to the colon. I believe FOS
also is important to support the body’s
capability to produce its own lactic acid
bacteria.
Naturally developed bacteriocins and
hydrogen peroxide are important ingredients
to help kill and eliminate pathogenic
invaders. Important enzymes are present
to help with digestion and other health
supporting functions.
Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics are free of chemicals,
preservatives, artificial additives, coloring
agents and animal by-products.
As millions of television viewers
have seen on Dr. Phil and
The View, Ann Louise Gittleman,
Ph.D., CNS, is continually
breaking new ground in all
aspects of health—from natural
hormone replacement to
effective and safe weight loss.
Hailed as one of the most respected
and innovative nutritionists in America
today, she is the award-winning author of nearly
25 books on health and healing with over 4
million copies in print. Her latest NY Times and
USA Today bestsellers are Before the Change
and The Fat Flush Plan. A frequent guest on
national television and radio, she currently
resides in the Inland Northwest and can be
contacted through www.annlouise.com.
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