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Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Altered abnormal bacterial flora increases risks to health
Living in this wide-world and even bigger universe, we sometimes forget that there is a different form of universe within each of us. In fact, there are trillions of bacteria in each one of us. Did you know that the number of bacteria in our gut actually exceeds the number of cells in human body by 10 fold.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
BACTERIAL PATTERNS IN BODY
While the total number of bacteria in each body is about 100 trillion, the number of species encountered is only 500-1000. In fact, 99% of flora is made up by 30-40 species.
Each individual human being has a unique, specific and stable pattern of the types of bacteria present. This uniqueness is controlled by physiologic and immunologic uniqueness of each one of us. For example, bacterial flora in monozygotic twins follows a similar pattern.
CLASSIFICATION
The intestinal bacteria may be auto- or allochthonous. Autochthonous bacteria means that these species are detected consistently suggesting that there has been long term association. They are stable in population as well as size and presumably have a demonstrable ecological function.
For example, in case of broiler chickens raised under commercial conditions, lactobacilli become established in their gut soon after hatching and persist throughout life despite common and frequent use of antibiotics. These lactobacilli influence pH of intestinal contents which in turn inhibits proliferation of harmful bacteria (a demonstrable function).
Allochthonous bacteria are found at a site other than where they are formed i.e. delivered by food. As such, they are aliens to the gut. Various mechanisms determine how long they can stay. For example, competition with the native bacteria, also known as Niche exclusion principle.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
NICHE EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE
The Niche principle states that two types of species with similar ecological/functional niche cannot live together and survive in same place. The major reason for vast biodiversity of microflora in the gut is the immensely heterogeneous environment that exists in relation to nutrients and spatial arrangement. As such, scores if not hundreds of niches need to co-exist with different types of bacteria favored by each.
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
There is also a possibility of symbiosis; which means benefit to both the bacteria and the host. It is clear that bacteria get benefit with nutrients; the benefit to host (i.e. human) has not been well demonstrated since people can live in germ free environs.
On the other hand, we know that the overall microflora does affect the intestinal physiology and metabolic functions. Thus the entire gut flora may be considered one organism for the purpose of symbiosis although individually it consists of commensals.
EFFECT OF ALIEN BACTERIA
At the same time, under certain circumstances, the arrival of alien bacteria can degenerate into host-parasite in which host is injured. Example is sepsis caused by anaerobes in normal flora.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
VARIATION OF BACTERIAL SPECIES IN GUT
Different parts of digestive tract have different quantities of bacteria. In fact, even within colon, the different parts have different species. In inflamed colon, the inflamed colon has different species than the healthy one.
CHANGES DURING LIFE
From the time of birth, the flora changes with time till established into a stable pattern. The flora depends on numerous factors. For example, in a neonate, the type of bacteria present are different depending upon hospital or home delivery, country, method of delivery (vaginal delivery versus C-section), small family size and maternal diet etc.
Lack of exposure to certain species or use of antibiotics at critical time of maturation of immune system may alter the ultimate flora and impact on health.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
EFFECT OF DIET
The human diet has also evolved over millions of years and so have the gut flora. The paleolithic diet did not contain grain or cow's milk. Most food was well fermented, as it was stored in soil for weeks or even months. There was less salt, sugar and fat.
On the other hand, minerals (x2), plant fiber (x10), antioxidants (x20) and bacteria (x billions) were contained in abundance. Research suggests that the beneficial bacteria tolerate western diet poorly.
EFFECT OF STRESS AND DISEASE
Intestinal bacterial patterns change during stress and disease. For example in pancreatitis, the good bacteria disappear in 4-6 h resulting in overgrowth of pathogens and translocation of these harmful bacteria across the gut wall within 6 hours.
When a person is admitted to an intensive care unit, the good lactic acid bacteria are lost after a short stay. The examination of gut bacteria in astronauts reveals that the good lactic acid bacteria are reduced to as low as zero accompanied by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria.
USEFULNESS OF GUT BACTERIA
The intestinal bacteria serve a lot of functions in the gut. The animals of bacteria raised in germ-free conditions have deranged gastrointestinal system. Their gastric emptying is delayed, intestinal transit is prolonged and the colon may be dilated.
MANIPULATING GUT FLORA
Pasteur stated that life sans microbes is impossible. In 1907, Metchnikoff came up with idea of positive role of some bacteria. It was Lilly & Stillwell who coined the term "probiotic" in 1965. Several studies have documented the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics in digestive (irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea) as well as non-digestive illnesses (common cold, obesity).
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Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
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