By Elaine Doucette, Herbalist, BMSA Tech.                                    Share on Facebook    

Cultured food that is! Once regarded as sacred in traditional diets, cultured foods contain bacteria collectively known as “probiotics”… which means “for life”. Probiotics are friendly, beneficial bacteria which prevent disease in their host. These bacteria colonize the large and small intestines and are very important for a healthy digestive system. 

Lactobacillus species are present on the surface of all living things, and with more than 500 different types of bacteria found in the gut, the two most abundant types are Lactobacillus acidophilus (Latin for acid-loving milk bacteria) and Bifido bacterium. In a healthy gut, Bifido bacteria are the most predominate in the large intestine, and Lactobacilli acidophilus are the most abundant bacteria in the small intestine (5).

Cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir and soured cream provide probiotics and lactic acid to the digestive tract, serving to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption. Research has shown that the regular consumption of cultured dairy products lowers cholesterol, enhances immunity, protects against bone loss, and reduces inflammation in the gut. (1, 6)

The fermentation of milk helps ease lactose intolerance because the bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid. The presence of the enzyme lactase in fermented milk products also helps to digest lactose in the digestive tract. Additionally, some of the milk protein ‘casein’ is broken down, liberating the amino acids it is made of. Research shows that proteins in yogurt are digested twice as quickly as those in non-fermented milk (1).

Fermenting vegetables is another ancient way of bringing probiotics into our food. For example, sauerkraut and kimchi are forms of cultured cabbage that are consumed daily in certain countries. For all of my clients I recommend eating a variety of cultured vegetables, fruits and dairy as a condiment with every meal for better bowel health.

Lactic acid is also a natural preservative which inhibits growth of putrefying bacteria in the digestive tract, helping to relieve flatulence. Once again, the naturally occurring sugars in vegetables and fruits are fermented by the many species of lactic-acid-producing bacteria. These friendly creatures and their by-products keep pathogens at bay, guarding against infections and aiding in more optimal digestion.

I strongly believe that the high amount of digestive issues in North America is a result of not integrating cultured foods, and they are a key part of my digestive health protocol.  If it not possibel for my clients to make them a regular part of their diet, I recommend taking a probiotic supplement in the form of a capsule, powder or liquid.

There is a large array of supplements available, differing in the number of bacteria and or the probiotic species they offer. The top recommendations from 2011 are as follows:

1. Renew life Ultimate Flora

Weighing in at 50 billion units!!! This one is suggested for critical care: a very therapeutic supplement; for example, after a bout of antibiotics, for reoccurring infections, IBS, crohns, candida, etc. This product is an excellent gateway towards a greater feeling of wellbeing in the gut and for setting up a healthy bacterial balance (5).

2. Saccharomyces boulardii

Saccharomyces boulardii is showing very consistent results with traveler’s diarrhea and antibiotic associated diarrhea. There are many human clinical trials to back this up as well as the excellent feedback we get from clients at Optimum Health (3).

3. Soil Based Organisms

Soil Based Organisms; SBOs (or HSOs) help to remove the putrefaction inside the colon and restore gastrointestinal micro-flora (probiotics) (4). Traditional cultures and our great-grandparents would simply brush off a carrot from the ground and eat it, dirt and all. (Today we strive for a level of cleanliness that can actually become detrimental to one’s gastrointestinal tract.) Primal Defense is an SBO product that is available in Canada and is recommended for a 1-6 month integration phase of cleaning out dead matter. As with any new cleansing protocol starting slowly is very important!

4. DDS and Metagenics Ultra Flora

DDS and Metagenics Ultra Flora products both have trademarked bacterial strains that have been through rigorous research; proving that they have the strength to create balance in the gut and eliminate certain issues. Though finding the best product for an individual may take some time and some trial and error, we have always seen consistent results with these two probiotic supplements at Optimum Health. In particular we have found DDS effective for seasonal allergies and issues with candida yeast. 

5. Probiotic food products

Probiotic food products are also gaining in popularity. BioK for example, has always been a popular product and now offers strawberry flavor, rice yogurt based, soy yogurt based and the original dairy based. Bio K has 50 billion live bacterial units for each serving and comes in a drinkable yogurt container.

Kombucha is a cultured mushroom that becomes fizzy like soda pop when fermented! This is one of my favorites. Many different convenient drinks are using this as their delicious and naturally energizing base.

The digestive system is the human body’s first line of defense so keeping it populated with ‘good guys’ is essential! Come into Optimum Health to get information and access to many effective and well researched products.
 

References

• (1)The Friendly Bacteria, William H. Lee, PhD
• (2)Les Aliments Fermentes Traditionnels, Claude Aubert
• (3) McFarland LV. Meta-analysis of probiotics for the prevention of traveler's diarrhea. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2007, Can M, et al. Prophylactic Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a prospective study. Med Sci Monit. 2006
• (4) Prescript Assist trademarked brand of SBOs, Clinical Therapeutics 2005; Vol 27, No. 6, Pgs.755-761.
• (5)http://www.renewlife.ca/product_details.php?product_name=ultimate-flora-critical-care&product_id=85&cat_id=2#overview
• Probiotics: a role in the treatment of intestinal infection and inflammation?
  E Isolauri, P V Kirjavainen, S Salminen
  Gut 2002;50(Suppl III):iii54–iii59