Extraordinary Health Magazine EH Magazine VOl 33_Final | Page 52

How Can I Benefit
the Most From my
BACTERIA
by Bruce Topping - Garden of Life National Educator & Probiotic Expert
The subject for today is probiotics, but we’re skipping
the beginner’s course—and assuming we’re talking
to the already initiated among us: those who’ve been
paying attention to the stacks of studies released over
the past couple of decades. For you, terms such as
gastrointestinal tract, colon, gut and digestion; and
diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, painful stools, and
bowel movement; and live bacteria as well as beneficial
bacteria are already part of your vocabulary.
Now, we want to dive down a little deeper and embark
on Probiotics 102—the course that helps you answer the
all-important question: How can I benefit the most from
my bacteria?
Now, all good courses include a mini refresher. So, by way of
introduction, let’s review: it all starts at birth when you swallow
trillions of probiotics during the trip through your mom’s birth
canal. Shortly after your arrival, you are invaded and colonized
by billions of tiny bacterial organisms which now live along your
digestive tract. These invaders came from multiple sources
with vastly different interests and agendas. They all share just
one thing in common—their desire to live, breed and protect
50 Vol 33 • Extraordinary Health ™
their new home inside of your gut. You are not alone! Many
researchers have pointed out that these organisms are a huge
part of our health. In fact, our guts have several pounds of
bacteria in them!
As diverse as these bacteria are, they boil down quite simply into
two camps: the good guys and the bad guys. Both of them pay
you rent, so to speak, for their space in your gut. The good guys
pay by supporting healthy digestion, aiding in the absorption of
nutrients—manufacturing and secreting certain vitamins into
the bloodstream, and providing meaningful support to your
immune system. In a sense, they also pay for the policing of the
dwelling, and one of the best parts about having these good
renters is that they keep out the riffraff by:
HELPING TO DIGEST CERTAIN SUGARS AND PROTEINS.
ACTIVELY DEPRIVING THE BAD INVADERS OF NUTRIENTS THEY
NEED TO POPULATE.
STRENGTHENING THE LINING OF THE GUT TO HELP BLOCK
DANGEROUS INVADERS FROM PENETRATING IT.
FACILITATING ABSORPTION OF CERTAIN MINERALS SUCH
AS CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM AND IRON.
HELPING TO RELIEVE OCCASIONAL BLOATING, GAS AND YEAST
OVERGROWTH. †
MANUFACTURING VITAMIN K AND B VITAMINS.
STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. †