What do flora/probiotics do?

[Guest guest]

Dear list,

Someone recently asked what flora (the type found in probiotics) do. People with

CFS typically have low levels of one or more of the 4 main healthy flora. Many

people have undetectable levels. Currently known functions of our normal healthy

flora include:

-Ferment foods to produce short chain fatty acids which are utilised by the

intestine wall as fuel. This imrpoves the health of the gut wall, reducing leaky

gut and improving digestion.

-Interact with the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) component of our immune

system, greatly impacting immune function.

-Synthesize nutrients (certain amino acids, vitamins & coenzyme Q10)

-Improve digestion/absorption (e.g. produce lactase which digests lactose)

-Inhibit the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, yeast and parasites

-Improve gut motility and stool formation, relieving constipation and diarrhoea

-Influence genetic expression

-Assist toxin elimination via stools (incluidng mercury) and convert some toxins

into less toxic forms (including mercury)

-Improve lipid (cholesterol, triglycerides) profile

-Influence hormone balance, e.g. estrogen

-Reduce potentially carcinogenic chemicals in the gut

People with CFS typically have an overgrowth of one or more pathogenic bacteria

in their gut. The most common include streptococcus, enterococcus, klebsiella,

etc. Effects of harmful flora:

-Decrease production of fatty acids

-Reduce levels of healthy flora

-Impair nutrient digestion/absorption

-Produce chemicals as metabolic by-products which can have systemic harmful

effects. For example increased levels of enterococci and streptococci correlate

highly with cognitive dysfunctions (nervousness, memory loss, forgetfulness,

confusion, mind going blank) and impaired sleep patterns. These chemicals when

absorbed systemically also tax our antioxidant reserves (incluidng reducing

glutathione). If leaky gut is present more of these chemicals are absorbed.

Best regards,

Blake