Why Probiotics? (part 1 of 2)

 
In my last blog entry, I went into more detail regarding why it is important to take a fish oil supplement and how it works in your body.  The other supplement I have mentioned taking is a probiotic.  I would like to share with you what a probiotic does, and why it is important.  In this entry, I want to go into depth regarding your gut, so that you can fully understand the importance of a healthy gastrointestinal system, and therefore how a probiotic can be extremely helpful for maintaining optimal health.
 
This is a VERY BIG issue, so let me start by painting the BIG picture here.  Your Gut, Brain, and Primary Immune Defense are all connected.  A big shocker to most people, including physicians, is that 80% of your immune system is located in your gut.  Two common side effects to poor gut health are Depression and Lowered Immunity.  For your body to function at its optimal potential, your brain must receive the proper signals from your gut (i.e. your nervous system must be minimally stressed, one of the most common stressors on the nervous system is a subluxation in the spine).  The brain regulates appropriate gut activity.
 

Furthermore, your gut is quite literally your Second Brain!  It originates from the same type of tissue as your brain during fetal development.  Your brain and gut are connected not only through the peripheral nerves but also through a cranial nerve.  The Vagus Nerve, your tenth cranial nerve runs from your brain stem to your abdomen.  With this set-up, your gut and brain work in tandem, each influencing the other.  This is why your intestinal health can have a profound influence on your mental health.  This also helps explain the link between neurological disorders and gastrointestinal dysfunction.  For example, gluten intolerance is frequently a feature of autism (a neurologic disorder), and many autistic children improve when following a gluten free diet.
 
Speaking of development, establishing normal gut flora within the first 20 days of life plays a crucial role in appropriate development of your baby’s immune system.  Babies who develop abnormal gut flora are left with compromised immune systems, which is a crucial factor when it comes to vaccine-induced neurologic damage.  Babies with normal healthy gut flora and hence a better functioning immune system tend to not need vaccines anyway, and have less risk of neurologic damage related to the heavy metals and preservatives used in vaccines.
 
Your body contains around 100 trillion bacteria!  So, why are we so scared of bacteria in our society?  The ideal ratio of “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria in your gut is about 85% and 15% respectively.  Keeping this optimal ratio is essential for good health.  In my next entry I will go into more depth on some important ways to help keep your gut healthy (such as taking a high quality probiotic).  In the meantime check out the following websites; Green Med Info, and Mercola for quality information on important health topics.