COVID-19 Update: We are continuing to suspend our in-office visits as Governor Mills continues "State of Civil Emergency" in Maine. For your safety and the safety of our staff, we ask that you schedule a
Tele-Medicine visit. We will continue to post updates as we continue to
care for all our patients.
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Intestinal Health
There is a hidden world in the
intestinal tract that if not balanced properly can be overridden by
pathogenic (bad) microbes and cause innumerable infections and
diseases. Routine consumption of antibiotics hidden in meat,
poultry, eggs and dairy products is a significant contributor to the
dysbiosis or unbalance of the good and bad bacteria in the gut.
Every year more than 35 million pounds of antibiotics are produced
in the United States and their consumption is divided between
livestock, poultry and humans. There is an epidemic of antibiotics
that people unknowingly eat that could produce resistant bacteria. A
study at Rutgers University showed antibiotics at levels deemed safe
by the FDA increased the rate at which resistant bacteria emerged
from 600 to 2,700 percent.
There is a delicate balance between the healthful and pathogenic
microbes in the intestinal microflora that number as high as 100
trillion viable bacteria comprised of 100-400 different bacterial
species. The balance is important to be maintained to prevent
disease and an accelerated aging process. This is accomplished by
employing probiotics. These days, there is no question of whether
one needs a probiotic, but which one is best for improving the
intestinal microbial balance and what in particular your intestines
is fighting and what it may specifically need.
We use a microbiology stool test that helps determine the status of
the intestinal tract and can then recommend the right course of
treatment. In general, Lactobacillus acidophilus prevents pathogenic
bacteria from increasing and healthy bacteria from becoming toxic.
Bifidobacteria is another probiotic that has a protective effect.
Lactobacilli produces lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and possibly
acetic and benzoic acids. Bifidobacteria produce short-chain fatty
acids such as butyric, propionic , acetic, lactic and formic acids;
the most plentiful being acetic acid which has a wide range of
antimicrobial activity against yeast, molds and bacteria.
There are many other factors that support the intestinal tract.
Along with probiotics, fiber, lactoferrin (an iron-binding protein),
and lactoperoxidase (an enzyme that occurs in secretions of glands
like saliva, tears, bronchial, nasal and intestines) are supportive
substances of the microbial balance in the intestinal tract.
Call us for an appointment to have a stool examination for
microbiology or go to Lab Tests-
Gastrointestinal to have a kit sent to you.
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