20 Reasons to Love Bacteria

It may come as a surprise to learn that there are any reasons to love bacteria, but after poring through medical journals, I found that there are at least 20 reasons to love probiotic (health-supporting) bacteria. They include:

1. Digestion and Nutrition

Certain types of bacteria help ensure that food is adequately broken down and that the nutrients are synthesized and absorbed by the body.

2. Anti-Toxic Effects

Probiotic bacteria help to ensure that toxins are not absorbed into the blood and at the same time, help keep harmful bacteria in check. This aids gut and immune system health.

3. Allergies

Research by scientists at the Osaka University School of Medicine found that certain probiotics were effective in the treatment of nasal and sinus symptoms linked to allergies. Published in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology , the specific strains they found to be effective include: Lactobacilli casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium longum.

4. Inflammation

Research conducted at the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research in Tokyo, Japan and published in the journal Gut Microbes found that certain bacteria can reduce the inflammatory response in the body. Since inflammation has increasingly been linked with many chronic diseases, effective anti-inflammatories like probiotic bacteria may play an important role in the natural treatment of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and others.

5. Susceptibility to Colitis

Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada, have linked susceptibility to this serious bowel disorder to the types and quantities of flora found in the intestines. Since supplementation of probiotics can positively influence the bowel flora, taking beneficial bacteria may play a role in the likelihood of developing colitis.

Keep reading to learn how bacteria can help with obesity and cancer…