Bacteria in your Gut, Oh MY!

Bacteria in your colon are referred to by many different names – probiotics, good or bad bacteria, beneficial bacteria, acidophilus, disbiosis, micro flora, proflora. friendly flora, and unfriendly bacteria.  I will simply use good and bad bacteria to refer to all the bacteria that exist in the small intestine and your colon.

Your colon has both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria maintain the health of your colon by keeping the bad bacteria from multiplying and reducing constipation.  Most people have bad bacteria as the dominant condition in their colon. You can see this by the illnesses that exist throughout the world. Most people later in their life suffer from diseases that resulted from colon neglect and abuse.

Bad bacteria multiply when you:

* Consume toxins such as pollution, pesticides, food additives such as preservatives, coloring, so on.

* Drink alcohol

* Eat processed foods

* Have excess anxiety=stress

* Lack fiber in your diet

* Use birth control pills

* Use drugstore laxative

* Use drugs and medication

Good bacteria in your colon consists of hundred of species of bacteria. The good bacteria are most active in a pH of 5.9 to 6.9- an acidic environment. This makes for a healthy colon.  Your colon serves as a home for the good bacteria, which ferment specific carbohydrates, which in turn keep your colon environment slightly acidic. The acid environment favors the good bacteria and keeps the bad bacteria and pathogens from multiplying.

 The bad bacteria create an alkaline environment and are most active in a pH of 7.1 to 7.9

Good bacteria creates an acidic environment and are most active in a pH of 5.9 to 6.9

 

Acidophilus and Bifidus are the main good bacteria that exist in your colon. The ascending colon, on the right side of your abdomen area, has the most bacteria. The quantity of bacteria becomes less in the transverse colon and lesser in the descending colon. Eventually, little bacteria is found in the sigmoid and rectum.

When good beneficial bacteria is dominant, in your colon, it prevents the spread of disease from various organisms – parasites, bacteria, viruses, fungi. The specific organisms Shigella, salmonella, viruses, encephalitis, protozoan, amebas, staph, herpes, flu, cold viruses, comphylobacter, and CMV, are the ones that creates killer diseases such as dysentery, blood poisoning, meningitis, pneumonia, influenza and encephalitis.

The good bacteria keep these organisms in the minority, thus preventing them from multiplying, getting into the blood, and into the different body organs. They do this by their antibiotic like secretions, lactic acid production, and other secretions, which keep their environment acidic.

 

So what happens when the good bacteria isn’t able to flourish and grow and keep the bad bacteria in balance?  

 

Candida Albicans is a yeast that occurs naturally in the human body, but it is only one of many different types of fungus that can be problematic. Normally it lives in harmony with a variety of other microorganisms and actually performs a couple important functions.  The problem occurs when something upsets the balance of bacteria in the body and this allows the yeast organism to proliferate and take over all the healthy microorganisms. 

It normally resides in the intestinal tract, mouth, throat and genitals, however it can burrow holes in the intestinal tract, enter the blood stream and then make it’s way into any organ of the body. To make matters worse it emits over 70 different toxins into the body. Some people may even become allergic to the yeast itself. 

Once this hardy organism proliferates in the body, it wrecks havoc in many ways, and is the initiator of many common conditions, syndromes and illnesses in our population.

Some of the most frequent Candida symptoms are:

• abdominal gas and bloating
• headaches
• migraines
• excessive fatigue
• cravings for alcohol
• anxiety
• vaginitis
• rectal itching
• cravings for sweets
• inability to think clearly or concentrate
• hyperactivity
• mood swings
• diarrhea
• constipation
• hyperactivity
• itching
• acne
• eczema
• depression
• sinus inflammation
• pre-menstrual syndrome
• dizziness
• poor memory
• persistent cough
• earaches
• low sex drive
• muscle weakness
• irritability
• learning difficulties
• sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals
• cognitive impairment
• thrush
• athlete’s foot
• sore throat
• indigestion
• acid reflux
• chronic pain

3 Common Causes of Candida:

1.  Taking Antibiotics and medications
2. Eating a high sugar and processed food diet
3. Stress…stress…stress!

 

5 ways to treat your Candida:

1.  Very low sugar diet (and carbs too)
2. Probiotics
3. Anti-fungals
4. Candida Cleanse
5. Supplements

 

 

This article is hopping around the following Blog Hops:

Homestead Barn Hop, Wildcrafting Wednesday, From the Farm Fridays, Simple Saturdays Blog Hop, Simple Life Sunday Blog Hop.

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Medical Disclaimer:

Nothing in this post is to be construed as medical advice, simply a sharing of things that have worked for me & my family. If you have any symptoms of serious illness, taking medication, pregnant or nursing, or have never worked with herbal materials or essential oils before, please consider consulting a medical professional before use. I am unable to offer advise for your particular medical situation; please ask your Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Naturopath for further guidance.  The statements made here have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.