Our Tiniest FriendsOur Tiniest FriendsNat 212, Module 2Nat 212, Module 2

Option 4Option 4What do the What do the bacteria bacteria in the large in the large

intestine contribute to the body? What intestine contribute to the body? What holistic protocols can be used to support holistic protocols can be used to support

their role?their role?Catherine OshinCatherine Oshin

DisclaimerDisclaimer

The following information is for The following information is for educational purposes only and is educational purposes only and is not meant to treat, cure, not meant to treat, cure, prevent, prescribe for, or prevent, prescribe for, or diagnose any disease or medical diagnose any disease or medical condition.  condition.  

Information on herbs and Information on herbs and supplements has not been supplements has not been evaluated by the FDAevaluated by the FDA

Friends ForeverFriends Forever

Millions of microorganisms, including Millions of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungus and other bacteria, yeasts, fungus and other organisms exist in and on our bodies organisms exist in and on our bodies beginning at birth. beginning at birth.

Most of these are harmless or beneficial and Most of these are harmless or beneficial and live with humans in live with humans in symbiosissymbiosis, a dependent , a dependent relationship which benefits both parties. We relationship which benefits both parties. We provide them with food they need and in provide them with food they need and in turn they support the immune system, turn they support the immune system, digestive system, and produce some digestive system, and produce some vitamins. vitamins.

Have you heard of “probiotics”? You Have you heard of “probiotics”? You may have been reading about may have been reading about supplementary bacteria, or yogurt supplementary bacteria, or yogurt culture. It may have been touted as a culture. It may have been touted as a treatment for side effects of treatment for side effects of antibiotics.antibiotics.

Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that live in our bodies and are also that live in our bodies and are also found in fermented foodsfound in fermented foods

Antibiotics and other environmental Antibiotics and other environmental factors can deplete or alter the factors can deplete or alter the balance of these helpful organismsbalance of these helpful organisms

Native Fauna in the GINative Fauna in the GI

The large intestine is populated by The large intestine is populated by millions of bacteria that assist in the millions of bacteria that assist in the digestive processdigestive process

These help to These help to – Break down undigested fibersBreak down undigested fibers– Produce some vitaminsProduce some vitamins– Protect against pathogenic Protect against pathogenic

organismsorganisms

Digestion and AbsorptionDigestion and Absorption

When digested food moves into the When digested food moves into the large intestine from the small large intestine from the small intestine, most of the nutrients have intestine, most of the nutrients have already been digested and absorbedalready been digested and absorbed

Organisms in the colon help to Organisms in the colon help to further break down cellulose and further break down cellulose and other fibers for absorption through other fibers for absorption through the lining of the colonthe lining of the colon

Vitamin ProductionVitamin Production

These microorganisms produce:These microorganisms produce:– The B vitamins Thiamine, Riboflavin and The B vitamins Thiamine, Riboflavin and

Biotin and B-12 Biotin and B-12 – Vitamin KVitamin K

These nutrients are absorbed in the These nutrients are absorbed in the colon along with some water, sodium, colon along with some water, sodium, potassium, chloride, and some of the potassium, chloride, and some of the Vitamin K Vitamin K – The large intestine does not absorb Vitamin The large intestine does not absorb Vitamin

B-12B-12

ImmunityImmunity

Healthy populations of beneficial Healthy populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut inhibit overgrowth bacteria in the gut inhibit overgrowth of pathogenic, or harmful, organisms of pathogenic, or harmful, organisms by competing for food and space.by competing for food and space.

This protects the body from infection.This protects the body from infection.

DysbiosisDysbiosis

An imbalance in the native micro-An imbalance in the native micro-organisms in the GIorganisms in the GI

Symptoms may be both local and Symptoms may be both local and systemicsystemic– Can cause diarrhea, constipation, gas, Can cause diarrhea, constipation, gas,

bloating, cramping, indigestion, vaginal bloating, cramping, indigestion, vaginal yeast infections, thrush, yeast infections, thrush,

– weakened immune system, headaches, weakened immune system, headaches, joint pain, fatiguejoint pain, fatigue

Causes of DysbiosisCauses of Dysbiosis

Chlorinated water, pollution, food Chlorinated water, pollution, food additives, alcoholadditives, alcohol

Antibiotics, steroid medications, overuse of Antibiotics, steroid medications, overuse of laxatives, diarrhealaxatives, diarrhea

These factors can reduce or destroy the These factors can reduce or destroy the populations of beneficial bacteria in the GI populations of beneficial bacteria in the GI and should be reduced and avoided when and should be reduced and avoided when you are correcting an imbalance, taking you are correcting an imbalance, taking antibiotics, or simply to maintain healthy antibiotics, or simply to maintain healthy digestion.digestion.

AntibioticsAntibiotics Broad spectrum antibiotics, which are Broad spectrum antibiotics, which are

frequently used to treat otitis media and frequently used to treat otitis media and sinusitis, affect all strains of bacteria sinusitis, affect all strains of bacteria throughout the body without discretion. throughout the body without discretion.

In this way the infection may be cured but In this way the infection may be cured but the body is opened up to other sorts of the body is opened up to other sorts of infection due to the lack of beneficial infection due to the lack of beneficial bacteria. bacteria.

Candidiasis is such a common reaction that Candidiasis is such a common reaction that many patients receive antifungal medication many patients receive antifungal medication along with antibiotics as a precautionary along with antibiotics as a precautionary measure. measure.

Supporting Healthy Gut Supporting Healthy Gut FloraFlora

Diet and lifestyle can support the Diet and lifestyle can support the populations of healthy organismspopulations of healthy organisms

The previously listed causes of dysbiosis The previously listed causes of dysbiosis should be avoidedshould be avoided

Fermented foods containing live cultures Fermented foods containing live cultures should be a regular part of the dietshould be a regular part of the diet

A diet high in soluble fiber, which feeds A diet high in soluble fiber, which feeds the helpful bacteriathe helpful bacteria

Probiotic supplements come in tablet, Probiotic supplements come in tablet, capsule, liquid, and powder formscapsule, liquid, and powder forms

Acidophilus and other Acidophilus and other ProbioticsProbiotics

The term probiotics most often refers to supplements The term probiotics most often refers to supplements containing presumably live bacteria that support containing presumably live bacteria that support healthy populations of bacteria or yeasts in the body.healthy populations of bacteria or yeasts in the body.

Most contain strains of Most contain strains of LactobacillusLactobacillus and and Bifidobacterium Bifidobacterium similar to native strains found in the similar to native strains found in the gutgut

Most supplements contain both types of strainsMost supplements contain both types of strains– Transient strains pass through the system and do not re-Transient strains pass through the system and do not re-

establish colonies. They are helpful for acute and temporary establish colonies. They are helpful for acute and temporary conditions conditions

– Resident strains are commonly found in and remain in the Resident strains are commonly found in and remain in the bodybody

Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut also supply some of the same organismssauerkraut also supply some of the same organisms

PrebioticsPrebiotics

Fibers and other substances not Fibers and other substances not digested in the small intestine that digested in the small intestine that feed the good bacteria in the colonfeed the good bacteria in the colon– Fructoligosaccharides (or FOS) is the most Fructoligosaccharides (or FOS) is the most

popular and is included in some probiotic popular and is included in some probiotic supplements and also sold separatelysupplements and also sold separately

– inulin, an insoluble fiberinulin, an insoluble fiber– butyrate (from the digestion of fiber)butyrate (from the digestion of fiber)– L-glutamine, an amino acidL-glutamine, an amino acid

Beginning at birth our bodies are Beginning at birth our bodies are populated by millions of populated by millions of microorganisms that support and microorganisms that support and protect the processes of the body. protect the processes of the body.

It is important to keep these in It is important to keep these in balance throughout our lifetimes to balance throughout our lifetimes to maintain healthy digestion and avoid maintain healthy digestion and avoid diseasedisease

ReferencesReferences

ACHS class material and lecturesACHS class material and lectures http://www.digestivesplus.com/probiohttp://www.digestivesplus.com/probio

tics.htmltics.html accessed 2/18/10accessed 2/18/10

www.salemstate.edu/~sdion/presentDigestion&www.salemstate.edu/~sdion/presentDigestion&NutrientAbsorptionNutrientAbsorption.ppt.ppt accessed 2/16/10 accessed 2/16/10, great , great presentation with extra details on digestionpresentation with extra details on digestion