Probiotics and Longevity
Probiotics and Longevity
The idea of long life has been the focus of human interest since long before Ponce de Leon (1458-1521) sought the fountain of youth in Florida. From the beginning of human life on Planet Earth most people have wanted to live longer and have pondered every conceivable way to achieve that goal.
In our time the interest in longevity is so persistent that numerous organizations have sprung into existence to explore ways and means of reversing or slowing the aging process.
It is a no-brainer that management of the body for optimum health maintenance will normally, barring fatal accidents or murder, extend life. Health maintenance is the key to life extension.
Intestinal Flora
Arguably the most important of all health maintenance and life extension factors relates to the situation in the intestinal tract. Indeed, it is now scientifically established and known in ever widening circles that intestinal health is foundational to the health of all body systems.
Formerly unknown words such as prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics and biofermentics have sprung into usage among health professionals, although understanding is lagging in the general public.
What’s it all about? In a word, it’s about the billions of tiny living things called bacteria or microbiota that inhabit the human intestinal tract and largely determine the issues of life and death for every inhabitant of our world.
Formerly the big issue in professional health circles was food values, nutrition and nutritional supplements such as multi-vitamins, minerals etc. Now there’s a paradigm shift to focus on the crucial importance of the intestinal flora and the primary understanding of what happens in that part of the body.
Let’s take a closer look at the intestinal flora. Biologists use the word flora to designate the mass and variety of microorganisms which reside in the intestinal tract.
Our human intestinal flora consists of 100 or more different varieties of microorganisms – also called microbiota – that reside in our intestines.
Some of them protect and preserve health, while others are harmful to health.
In proper balance, the superior quantity and activity of friendly microbiota maintain predominance, enhancing digestion and absorption of foods, assuring strong immunity, and protecting the body from disease causing harmful (pathogenic) germs.
Intestinal Health
Intestinal health is all-important. It is the foundation for nourishing all body systems. Indeed, it is widely believed by nutritionists and health professionals that almost all diseases begin in the intestines, and the cure of most diseases must begin there as well.
Overwhelmed by junk food, chronic constipation, perpetual stress and toxins in air, water, soil and food, harmful intestinal bacteria can proliferate, gain predominance and impose disease at some point of vulnerability in the body.
It follows that the key questions about health maintenance are simply these: How can we maintain a healthy situation within our intestinal tract? How can we assure that the "good" microbiota will predominate within our intestinal flora on a continuing basis?
Avoidance of bad foods and constipation, toxins and stress are important precautions. However, such an ideal living pattern in the germ-ridden, polluted modern environments in which most of us live our lives is largely impossible for most of us.
What, then, can we do?
Following is a list of just a few of the benefits that good Probiotic supplements, introduced to a properly functioning intestinal tract, may be expected to produce:
- Deliver billions of Probiotic metabolite micronutrients to the intestinal tract
- Regulate the intestinal ecosystem for the dramatic increase of beneficial bacteria
- Foster healthful predominance of beneficial microorganisms in the intestinal flora
- Decisively enhance digestion and absorption of all varieties of foods
- Strengthen the immune system for protection against germs
- Detoxify and nourish all of the body_s cells, tissues and organs
- Reduce stress effect, improve mood, restful sleep, energy and stamina
- Deliver energizing power to the very core of the physical and mental life
- Revitalize all body systems
Probiotics, together with biofermentic supplements that prepare the intestinal tract for optimal Probiotic effect, are now bringing a paradigm shift – a new understanding of the crucial role of the intestinal flora in optimization of health.
The current understanding is that the intestinal environment into which foods are delivered will largely determine Probiotic effectiveness, promote good health, and foster longevity of life.
This reality is not difficult to grasp. The best garden seeds in the world will produce nothing if planted in a parched, rocky soil environment that is void of nutrients, water and sunshine. The same seeds planted in fertile soil and blessed by the sun will produce an abundant harvest.
In a word, the environment makes the difference. Whether you are talking about a garden plot or your intestinal interior, the principle is the same. Health and longevity will bless the lives of those who ingest good nutritious foods into an intestinal environment that is prepared to maximize their effectiveness.
In our unsanitary, polluted, gluttonous modern world the human body needs help to cleanse, detoxify, re-fortify and prepare the intestinal environment for the foods that are delivered to it.
Optimization of intestinal tract performance, supported and enhanced by Probiotic supplementation, is a major key to the enjoyment of vibrant health and longevity of life.
Dr. H. Edward Rowe
Green Valley, Nevada
702-454-0015
This was a very complete run down of the history, the benefits, and where our health paradigm is headed
Did you see this article at http://probiotics.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-ua-bacterial-culture-reduces.html
Our factory farmed chickens will soon be using probiotics ^^ At least it’s a step in the right direction, right?
Hello,
I have been eating well and incorporating fresh/raw foods into my diet. I feel that probiotics are a great way to support a healthy lifestyle. I have tried yogurt and Kefir but I have just recently found these probiotic attune bars. They have living cultures in them and are beneficial to my daily diet. Do you think the Attune bars can replace some of my other daily probiotic intakes?