Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
Hi Doug Thankyou! :-) On Friday 20 March 2009 12:01:18 pm Keith Addison wrote: Shan Keith, thats what I love about this list: everything must be substantiated (unless one is seeking information). Quite a lot of people have said they like that about it. I guess you either do or you don't. It works well though, the list has achieved a lot that way. It's not just me, quite a lot of others as well, I think it's part of the list culture, if someone doesn't insist on it, someone else probably will. I'm much aware of the archives too, a lot of people spend a lot of time there, it's a treasure trove, 70,000 messages, about 500 megabytes of it, easy to search. It's often on the top page in Google searches. I guess I'm its guardian. I was not aware until now how esteemed a moderator we have: I have known that you are well read, a stickler for the facts, including references. :-) (Blush!) Naah, just following my nose, wouldn't stay at a job more than two years, if that, then I'd move on. I preferred freelancing (still do), you don't get a lot of esteem and so on that way, not so much money either, but you do get to follow your nose. I never did like climbing ladders - did you ever notice that about ladders, the higher you climb the narrower the rungs get? It lacks appeal. Keep up the good work. Thankyou Doug, I'll try. I will sit back, learning. Over the years I have even occasionally made a comment. As far as clear text messages go, it is sometimes difficult to find where to switch the email so only plain text is sent. I think it used to be the default, until Outlook changed that. An option is to move to an alternative Browser/Email client instead of using Microsofts' standard clients: Mozilla is one option. (Or if you are really interested in alternatives, that run well on older computers (as well as new), one could consider running the Open Source Operating System called Linux: I use the distribution called PCLinuxOS. Microsoft has not polluted my system for over 10 years now, I have no Virus checker never had a virus! Approximately 99.9% of Viruses only affect Microsoft Operating systems.) Right, Linux or Mac, no viruses. Damn, it's not only with gut microflora, I also think of the soil comparison whenever I think of Windows and viruses. Pests attack poor plants growing in sick soil, they don't attack healthy plants. Doesn't that sound like Windows to you? Beyond the reach of probiotics I think, looks pretty terminal to me, so to speak. All best Keith regards Doug ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
On Friday 20 March 2009 12:01:18 pm Keith Addison wrote: Shan Keith, thats what I love about this list: everything must be substantiated (unless one is seeking information). I was not aware until now how esteemed a moderator we have: I have known that you are well read, a stickler for the facts, including references. Keep up the good work. I will sit back, learning. Over the years I have even occasionally made a comment. As far as clear text messages go, it is sometimes difficult to find where to switch the email so only plain text is sent. An option is to move to an alternative Browser/Email client instead of using Microsofts' standard clients: Mozilla is one option. (Or if you are really interested in alternatives, that run well on older computers (as well as new), one could consider running the Open Source Operating System called Linux: I use the distribution called PCLinuxOS. Microsoft has not polluted my system for over 10 years now, I have no Virus checker never had a virus! Approximately 99.9% of Viruses only affect Microsoft Operating systems.) regards Doug ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
of Probiotics in Prevention and Treatment of Allergic Disease _http://www.horizonpress.com/ciim/abstracts/v3/02.html_ (http://www.horizonpress.com/ciim/abstracts/v3/02.html) _http://www.horizonpress.com/ciim/v/v3/02.pdf_ (http://www.horizonpress.com/ciim/v/v3/02.pdf) Leaky Gut / Intestinal Permeability and Enzymes The largest part of the immune system in our body is in the mucosal lining in the gut. The immune system makes sure all those undesirable elements do not get across into the bloodstream to begin with. The intestines are permeable to a certain degree so the proper nutrients get through. _http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionleakygut.htm_ (http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionleakygut.htm) best wishes Shan Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership Keith Addison Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:36:10 -0700 Hello Shan You do ask questions that nobody else asks, Keith. I don't think so... Perhaps not very many people make the comparison I made between the gut flora and the soil microlife, though they're intimately related, but what I said about the digestive system and the immune system isn't controversial. I think you've got it all back to front though. Your Dr. Brenda Watson also got it back to front, which is why I commented, and her kill the pathogens approach just doesn't work. Um, you didn't answer my question. ...keeps me on my toes so to speak... But you're putting the cart before the horse, IMHO, and saying quite a lot of right things for the wrong reasons. Yes, 80% of your immune system is in your digestive systme. I disagree. This is partly why those that are ill with most major illnesses will also have digestive problems which they probably got before they got their illness That's so, they usually do, but your explanation for it isn't the reason for that. regardless if it is cancer, MS, Parkinson's, whatever. When you have any digestive problem even if it seems minor such as frequent burping, passing gas, mild acid reflux etc then your immune system is compromised. Not necessarily so, your digestive system might be compromised, but any effect on your immune system is not that direct, it also depends on many other factors. This is also another reason why it is not a good idea to have any surgury that messes with or takes out part of your digestive system. It may be necessary, but indeed generally it's not a grand idea, though again not for that reason, any effect on the immune system would depend on how the surgery affected the digestion itself, and the metabolism of the nutrients a healthy immune system requires. And why if one has a digestive condition then in my opinion, it is very important to deal with it and heal it. Well yes of course, but you're not proving anything. All these things might be so, but they're so anyway, they don't confirm your idea that 80% of the immune system is in the digestive system. It leads to other things that eveyone would rather avoid..I also get rather emphatic about not eating processed food of any kind, nor GM foods, etc These are all hard on your digestive system. Therefor effect your immune system.. Yes, there is indeed that relationship. We were saying when we started all this in 1982 that all diseases are nutritional diseases and so on. While the functioning of the immune system depends on the quality metabolism of real food in a healthy digestive system, to say that the digestive system comprises the immune system or mostly so like you're saying is like sitting on the horse backwards and whipping the cart. In reality, there is no digestive condition that is minor in my opinion. The good news though is that all digestive disorders can be remedied or healed. Only allopathic medicine is not going to tell you that. Allopathic, homeopathic, naturopathic or whatever-pathic, you have to be equally well-informed to judge the worth of what you're told. Here is an article that I think that you will find interesting Keith. Especially given your unique perception of the digestive system. I've read it before, I know Sally Fallon's work quite well. What puzzles me about your referring to it is that she says the same as I said, that it's a big hole right through your body, she even titled it The Long Hollow Tube: A Primer on the Digestive System, and she says nothing about it comprising 80% of the immune system, or any part of the immune system. I'm not surprised you can't find any references to support your view that 80% of the immune system is in the digestive system. That you suspect this is 'fact' doesn't help much. Perhaps you should do some basic homework, like reading this: _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system_ (http
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionleakygut.htm_ (http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionleakygut.htm) best wishes Shan Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership Keith Addison Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:36:10 -0700 Hello Shan You do ask questions that nobody else asks, Keith. I don't think so... Perhaps not very many people make the comparison I made between the gut flora and the soil microlife, though they're intimately related, but what I said about the digestive system and the immune system isn't controversial. I think you've got it all back to front though. Your Dr. Brenda Watson also got it back to front, which is why I commented, and her kill the pathogens approach just doesn't work. Um, you didn't answer my question. ...keeps me on my toes so to speak... But you're putting the cart before the horse, IMHO, and saying quite a lot of right things for the wrong reasons. Yes, 80% of your immune system is in your digestive systme. I disagree. This is partly why those that are ill with most major illnesses will also have digestive problems which they probably got before they got their illness That's so, they usually do, but your explanation for it isn't the reason for that. regardless if it is cancer, MS, Parkinson's, whatever. When you have any digestive problem even if it seems minor such as frequent burping, passing gas, mild acid reflux etc then your immune system is compromised. Not necessarily so, your digestive system might be compromised, but any effect on your immune system is not that direct, it also depends on many other factors. This is also another reason why it is not a good idea to have any surgury that messes with or takes out part of your digestive system. It may be necessary, but indeed generally it's not a grand idea, though again not for that reason, any effect on the immune system would depend on how the surgery affected the digestion itself, and the metabolism of the nutrients a healthy immune system requires. And why if one has a digestive condition then in my opinion, it is very important to deal with it and heal it. Well yes of course, but you're not proving anything. All these things might be so, but they're so anyway, they don't confirm your idea that 80% of the immune system is in the digestive system. It leads to other things that eveyone would rather avoid..I also get rather emphatic about not eating processed food of any kind, nor GM foods, etc These are all hard on your digestive system. Therefor effect your immune system.. Yes, there is indeed that relationship. We were saying when we started all this in 1982 that all diseases are nutritional diseases and so on. While the functioning of the immune system depends on the quality metabolism of real food in a healthy digestive system, to say that the digestive system comprises the immune system or mostly so like you're saying is like sitting on the horse backwards and whipping the cart. In reality, there is no digestive condition that is minor in my opinion. The good news though is that all digestive disorders can be remedied or healed. Only allopathic medicine is not going to tell you that. Allopathic, homeopathic, naturopathic or whatever-pathic, you have to be equally well-informed to judge the worth of what you're told. Here is an article that I think that you will find interesting Keith. Especially given your unique perception of the digestive system. I've read it before, I know Sally Fallon's work quite well. What puzzles me about your referring to it is that she says the same as I said, that it's a big hole right through your body, she even titled it The Long Hollow Tube: A Primer on the Digestive System, and she says nothing about it comprising 80% of the immune system, or any part of the immune system. I'm not surprised you can't find any references to support your view that 80% of the immune system is in the digestive system. That you suspect this is 'fact' doesn't help much. Perhaps you should do some basic homework, like reading this: _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system) Where it says, in the section on Surface barriers (such as the skin): In the stomach, gastric acid and proteases serve as powerful chemical defenses against ingested pathogens. Not a lot of leukocytes and B cells and T cells and so on to be found in the gut, though they're what the immune system itself mostly consists of, buttressed by the outer layers of defences the wikipedia article describes. All the outer layers put together, including the digestive tract, still couldn't be said to comprise 80% of the immune system. The immune system itself is internal
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
work on immunology, published in good places. I tried to post it but it was too big evidently. You posted it in html format, so it was much bigger than necessary and exceeded the server limit. The server stopped the message and the List administration wrote to you explaining why it was stopped and asked you to send it again in plain text/ASCII. Don't you know how to send a plain text message? It's a requirement on a mailing list, not only because of all the bloat but because html-coded messages can and do carry viruses, and plain text messages don't. My question again - Dr Brenda Watson talks of immune cells in the digestive tract: The body's defenses are centered in the digestive tract where immune cells and probiotic bacteria team up to resist infection. There are immune cells in the digestive tract? What sort of immune cells? Best Keith The Long Hollow Tube: A Primer on the Digestive System By Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD _http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html_ (http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html) I tried to find something that would specifically say for you how much of the immune system is in the digestive system but couldn't find one. I suspect this is 'fact' just as yeast is a fungus is a fact.. I have several articles on digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Sysdrome, Leaky Gut, Acid Reflux etc but thought the one above was more an all around reading. Yeast/fungus in our digestive track also has a practical beneficial use actually too. When we die, our bodies become very acidic and this acts like a trigger on the yeast and it grows. It is the yeast/fungus that causes our bodies to decompose when we die. This is not supposed to happen when we are alive . Candida is very unhealthy and bad for a living body. best wishes Shan Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership Keith Addison Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:38 -0700 Hm. Your gut acts as a huge immune organ, your first line of defense against infection, so you need an ample supply of probiotics - beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help guard it. As they naturally do, until it all gets upset. Aristotle said worms are the intestines of the earth, but I think the living soil itself is an intestine, the worms are just a part of it. The soil's just the same as an intestine, only sort of inside-out (or maybe intestines are outside-in). It has the same beneficial microorganisms as a healthy gut, and the same solution when the healthy balance is upset and the pathogens take over: feeding sick soil well-made thermophilic compost is much the same as feeding probiotics to an ailing gut - but then you have to stop feeding it junk-food too (for the soil read chemicals). Healthy food is grown in healthy soil, and if that's what you eat you shouldn't need probiotics, and you shouldn't need vitamin and mineral supplements either. But we live in a toxic soup these days, we probably need all the help we can get, and probiotics, vitamins and mineral supplements definitely have their uses. Anyway, I think your gut isn't only the first line of defence, it's also the first line of attack. It's not really part of the immune system, essentially it's outside the body - it's a big hole that goes right through you, without the immune system's protection that your organs and internal systems get. The whole lining of the alimentary canal is a sort of inner skin. Medically the whole thing is a huge vulnerability. The gut contains something like 2 oz of bacteria, busily digesting your food for you, and indeed providing your body with the building blocks a healthy immune system needs, but the bacteria aren't an integral part of the body's immune system. Nor is your outer skin ever faced with such a massive bacterial overload to contend with, along with a daily supply of decomposing food. All goes well nonetheless, just as long as you're living right and eating real food, which will greatly strengthen your resistance to the environmental toxic overload as well as to pathogens and disease. The body's defenses are centered in the digestive tract where immune cells and probiotic bacteria team up to resist infection. Whenever we are exposed to harmful bacteria, yeast or parasites, our immune cells in the digestive tract can shield us. Probiotics aid this process by boosting the effectiveness and activity of these immune warriors. There are immune cells in the digestive tract? What sort of immune cells? We're constantly exposed to harmful bacteria, yeast and parasites, pathogens are a normal component of a healthy gut microflora, and many of them are ubiquitous in the environment anyway. The kill the pathogens attitude just isn't the right approach, IMHO (and trying to kill
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
You do ask questions that nobody else asks, Keithkeeps me on my toes so to speak... Yes, 80% of your immune system is in your digestive systme. This is partly why those that are ill with most major illnesses will also have digestive problems which they probably got before they got their illness regardless if it is cancer, MS, Parkinson's, whatever. When you have any digestive problem even if it seems minor such as frequent burping, passing gas, mild acid reflux etc then your immune system is compromised. This is also another reason why it is not a good idea to have any surgury that messes with or takes out part of your digestive system. And why if one has a digestive condition then in my opinion, it is very important to deal with it and heal it. It leads to other things that eveyone would rather avoid..I also get rather emphatic about not eating processed food of any kind, nor GM foods, etc These are all hard on your digestive system. Therefor effect your immune system.. In reality, there is no digestive condition that is minor in my opinion. The good news though is that all digestive disorders can be remedied or healed. Only allopathic medicine is not going to tell you that. Here is an article that I think that you will find interesting Keith. Especially given your unique perception of the digestive system. I tried to post it but it was too big evidently. The Long Hollow Tube: A Primer on the Digestive System By Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD _http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html_ (http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html) I tried to find something that would specifically say for you how much of the immune system is in the digestive system but couldn't find one. I suspect this is 'fact' just as yeast is a fungus is a fact.. I have several articles on digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Sysdrome, Leaky Gut, Acid Reflux etc but thought the one above was more an all around reading. Yeast/fungus in our digestive track also has a practical beneficial use actually too. When we die, our bodies become very acidic and this acts like a trigger on the yeast and it grows. It is the yeast/fungus that causes our bodies to decompose when we die. This is not supposed to happen when we are alive . Candida is very unhealthy and bad for a living body. best wishes Shan Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership Keith Addison Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:38 -0700 Hm. Your gut acts as a huge immune organ, your first line of defense against infection, so you need an ample supply of probiotics - beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help guard it. As they naturally do, until it all gets upset. Aristotle said worms are the intestines of the earth, but I think the living soil itself is an intestine, the worms are just a part of it. The soil's just the same as an intestine, only sort of inside-out (or maybe intestines are outside-in). It has the same beneficial microorganisms as a healthy gut, and the same solution when the healthy balance is upset and the pathogens take over: feeding sick soil well-made thermophilic compost is much the same as feeding probiotics to an ailing gut - but then you have to stop feeding it junk-food too (for the soil read chemicals). Healthy food is grown in healthy soil, and if that's what you eat you shouldn't need probiotics, and you shouldn't need vitamin and mineral supplements either. But we live in a toxic soup these days, we probably need all the help we can get, and probiotics, vitamins and mineral supplements definitely have their uses. Anyway, I think your gut isn't only the first line of defence, it's also the first line of attack. It's not really part of the immune system, essentially it's outside the body - it's a big hole that goes right through you, without the immune system's protection that your organs and internal systems get. The whole lining of the alimentary canal is a sort of inner skin. Medically the whole thing is a huge vulnerability. The gut contains something like 2 oz of bacteria, busily digesting your food for you, and indeed providing your body with the building blocks a healthy immune system needs, but the bacteria aren't an integral part of the body's immune system. Nor is your outer skin ever faced with such a massive bacterial overload to contend with, along with a daily supply of decomposing food. All goes well nonetheless, just as long as you're living right and eating real food, which will greatly strengthen your resistance to the environmental toxic overload as well as to pathogens and disease. The body's defenses are centered in the digestive tract where immune cells
Re: [Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
Hm. Your gut acts as a huge immune organ, your first line of defense against infection, so you need an ample supply of probiotics - beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help guard it. As they naturally do, until it all gets upset. Aristotle said worms are the intestines of the earth, but I think the living soil itself is an intestine, the worms are just a part of it. The soil's just the same as an intestine, only sort of inside-out (or maybe intestines are outside-in). It has the same beneficial microorganisms as a healthy gut, and the same solution when the healthy balance is upset and the pathogens take over: feeding sick soil well-made thermophilic compost is much the same as feeding probiotics to an ailing gut - but then you have to stop feeding it junk-food too (for the soil read chemicals). Healthy food is grown in healthy soil, and if that's what you eat you shouldn't need probiotics, and you shouldn't need vitamin and mineral supplements either. But we live in a toxic soup these days, we probably need all the help we can get, and probiotics, vitamins and mineral supplements definitely have their uses. Anyway, I think your gut isn't only the first line of defence, it's also the first line of attack. It's not really part of the immune system, essentially it's outside the body - it's a big hole that goes right through you, without the immune system's protection that your organs and internal systems get. The whole lining of the alimentary canal is a sort of inner skin. Medically the whole thing is a huge vulnerability. The gut contains something like 2 oz of bacteria, busily digesting your food for you, and indeed providing your body with the building blocks a healthy immune system needs, but the bacteria aren't an integral part of the body's immune system. Nor is your outer skin ever faced with such a massive bacterial overload to contend with, along with a daily supply of decomposing food. All goes well nonetheless, just as long as you're living right and eating real food, which will greatly strengthen your resistance to the environmental toxic overload as well as to pathogens and disease. The body's defenses are centered in the digestive tract where immune cells and probiotic bacteria team up to resist infection. Whenever we are exposed to harmful bacteria, yeast or parasites, our immune cells in the digestive tract can shield us. Probiotics aid this process by boosting the effectiveness and activity of these immune warriors. There are immune cells in the digestive tract? What sort of immune cells? We're constantly exposed to harmful bacteria, yeast and parasites, pathogens are a normal component of a healthy gut microflora, and many of them are ubiquitous in the environment anyway. The kill the pathogens attitude just isn't the right approach, IMHO (and trying to kill pathogenic yeast might not be such a good idea, Herxheimer's resulting revenge is something to be feared). That's what antibiotics do, probiotics aren't just safe antibiotics (ie pesticides), they don't just kill stuff, they help to restore a healthy balance, which includes the pathogens. Best Keith Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership by Dr. Brenda Watson, ND* March 3, 2009 _http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14361B1=EM0311 09C_ (http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14361B1=EM031109C) **When you keep the gut well supplied with probiotics, you make an invaluable contribution to your present and future health.** If you want to stay well, you need a strong immune system to protect you against disease and keep you from getting sick. Your gut acts as a huge immune organ, your first line of defense against infection, so you need an ample supply of probiotics - beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help guard it. Your immune cells depend on their partnership with probiotics to help them shield the body from harm. Billions of Immune Helpers While your body consists of about ten trillion cells, the bacteria that live within us add up to close to a hundred trillion cells. The vast majority of these bacteria live in the digestive tract. Accompanying them are most of your immune receptors, which patrol the digestive tract, destroying invaders that could make you ill. Along with probiotics and immune cells, the mucous membrane lining in the digestive tract protects the body from invaders. When bacteria or other microbes contact this wall, immune cells determine whether it is a desirable probiotic - or an undesirable intruder. -- If accredited as friendly, the immune cells leave them alone. In fact, friendly bacteria even get fed - your sticky mucous membranes incorporate sugars that probiotics use for nutrition. -- But if the bacteria or microbes are seen as potential sources of trouble, the mucous ensnares them, and passes them through the intestines where they
[Biofuel] Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership
Probiotics Immunity: A Beautiful Partnership by Dr. Brenda Watson, ND* March 3, 2009 _http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14361B1=EM0311 09C_ (http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14361B1=EM031109C) **When you keep the gut well supplied with probiotics, you make an invaluable contribution to your present and future health.** If you want to stay well, you need a strong immune system to protect you against disease and keep you from getting sick. Your gut acts as a huge immune organ, your first line of defense against infection, so you need an ample supply of probiotics - beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help guard it. Your immune cells depend on their partnership with probiotics to help them shield the body from harm. Billions of Immune Helpers While your body consists of about ten trillion cells, the bacteria that live within us add up to close to a hundred trillion cells. The vast majority of these bacteria live in the digestive tract. Accompanying them are most of your immune receptors, which patrol the digestive tract, destroying invaders that could make you ill. Along with probiotics and immune cells, the mucous membrane lining in the digestive tract protects the body from invaders. When bacteria or other microbes contact this wall, immune cells determine whether it is a desirable probiotic - or an undesirable intruder. -- If accredited as friendly, the immune cells leave them alone. In fact, friendly bacteria even get fed – your sticky mucous membranes incorporate sugars that probiotics use for nutrition. -- But if the bacteria or microbes are seen as potential sources of trouble, the mucous ensnares them, and passes them through the intestines where they are eventually excreted. Barrier Defense Research on probiotics demonstrates that they have multiple functions that help mucous membranes and immune cells protect against infection. For example, a study in France found that strains of Bifidobacterium: -- Helped decrease harmful bacteria, -- Kept them from invading cells -- And killed off some types of Salmonella, a bacteria that frequently causes food poisoning (Gut, Nov 2000; pp 646-652). In Germany, when scientists gave a group of people a probiotic supplement for three months, they found that they suffered colds that were, on average, 2 days shorter than those caught by other folks (Clinical Nutrition, Aug 2005, pp 481-491). These researchers found that after only two weeks of supplements, the probiotics helped activate defense cells in the immune system. Wiping Out Infection Probiotics can help immune systems fend off invaders, but new research [also] shows their potential in keeping wounds free from infection. Applied to wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus, probiotics seem to keep the bacteria from binding to the human cells. More studies are necessary, but current results show how probiotics may be used against antibiotic-resistant infections. [See for example _a recent Swedish study involving Clostridium difficile incidence in ICU patients_ (http://www.prohealth.com//library/showarticle.cfm?libid=14084) .] Probiotics Deficitis Because the immune system depends so heavily on the help of its probiotic partners, anything that threatens these helpful little friends also threatens our health. Changes in the American diet and lifestyle during the past few decades have not made life easy for beneficial bacteria, and may be one important reason our health overall has suffered. As Gary B. Huffnagle, PhD, points out in _The Probiotics Revolution_ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553804928?ie=UTF8tag=prohealth-20linkCode=as2cam p=1789) (Bantam): **During the past forty or fifty years, Americans have inadvertently performed a massive experiment by making two significant lifestyle modifications: -- Greatly increasing our use of antibiotics -- And substantially changing our diet. Together these changes have produced an invisible epidemic of insufficient probiotics.*** * Fifty years ago, Americans used to eat plenty of whole grains with fresh fruits and vegetables. But our more recent reliance on processed foods, which contain little of the fiber that probiotics need to feed on, has favored the growth of yeast and harmful bacteria, and gradually starved out many of our beneficial organisms. Meanwhile, our use of antibiotics has also wiped out much of the probiotic bacteria in the gut. Promoting Immunity The beneficial probiotic bacteria in our digestive system have several crucial functions that help prevent pathogenic microbes from making us sick. -- Probiotics take food from pathogens. By consuming nutrients available in the gut, probiotics deprive disease-causing organisms the fuel they may use for reproduction. A fiber-rich diet
