Probiotics - The Good Stuff in Your Gut

Pro-biotics, also known as probiflora, is the opposite of anti-biotics. These are the “good” bacteria that are found in the human digestive tract. The gut flora are the microorganisms that normally live in the digestive tract and that perform a number of useful functions for their hosts.
The average human body, consisting of about 10,000,000,000,000 (ten trillion) cells, has about ten times that number of microorganisms in the gut.
Bacteria make up most of the flora in the colon, 99% of the bacteria coming from about 30 or 40 species and the activity of these bacteria make the colon the most metabolically active organ in the body.
Research suggests that the relationship between gut flora and humans is not just a non-harmful coexistence, but rather a mutualistic, symbiotic relationship. Though people can survive with no gut flora, the microorganisms perform a host of useful functions, such as training the immune system - by stimulating the lymphoid tissue of the gut’s mucous lining to produce antibodies to harmful substances. The immune system then recognizes and fights harmful bacteria, but leaves the helpful species alone, a tolerance developed in infancy. They also prevent growth of harmful bacteria by regulating the development and renewing of the intestinal lining, they produce vitamins for the host (such as biotin and vitamin K), as well as hormones to direct the host to store fats.
Some types of gut flora have enzymes that human cells lack for breaking down certain starches, fiber, oligosaccharides and sugars that the body failed to digest and absorb like lactose and sugar alcohols, mucus produced by the gut, and proteins. In addition, the short chain fatty acids they produce help the body to absorb nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Another important role of helpful gut flora is that they prevent species that would harm the host from colonizing the gut. Yeasts and harmful bacterial species are unable to grow too much due to competition from helpful gut flora species, thus animals without gut flora are more susceptible to infections.
Probiflora are destroyed by antibiotics, chlorine in drinking and bath water, and stress. Replacing the colony of flora in the digestive system(with a supplement) and maintaining (eating foods like yoghurt and fermented foods) will assist in a myriad of conditions including acidic imbalance, obesity, constipation, bloating and flatulence, diarrhea, candida, parasites, infections of the urinary tract or female genital tract, irritable bowel syndrome, prevention of the recurring of bladder cancer, lactose intolerance, allergies and eczema in children.
Ensure that the probiotic supplement taken is of good quality and remember, the bacteria are alive - they die off, so store them in a fridge to ensure that they last longer!

References: Solgar, Wikipedia.com, MedicineNet.com

What is Natural Health?

We live in a fast paced technological world where fast everything is the norm – instant global communication, fast foods, instant coffee… Our bodies and minds struggle to cope with the associated stress.
Are you tired, in pain, stressed to breaking point?
Maybe it is time to consider that your body is exactly like your car. Your car needs to be filled with the right octane of petrol, without impurities, needs to be serviced regularly – the filters, spark plugs and oil changed – and it can’t be driven on very bumpy roads without consequences, unless it’s a 4X4!
Your body functions in a certain way as well. It needs the right nutrients to fuel it, lots of water to eliminate waste products and toxins, rest to perform these tasks and repair areas where damage has occurred and exercise to keep moving.
We are built to move! For example, the lymphatic system does not have its own pump, so muscle action pumps the lymphatic fluid, which has the important function of draining toxins out of our tissues!
Your body consists of natural systems, built from natural elements – it is a part of Mother Nature. It has natural rhythms and is tuned to the cycles of Nature: day and night, lunar and seasonal.
It is structured to process natural raw products. Breathing utilises air to extract oxygen. Eating utilises food to extract useful nutrients to build tissues and perform millions of tasks throughout the whole body. Any changes in the quality of raw products – dirty air, food without the needed nutrients and energy values – cause imbalances. These imbalances cause blockages. The natural flow has been disturbed. The natural health of the body has been compromised.
We live in an artificial world, out of sync and removed from Nature, and expect our bodies to cope day after day, year in year out, with impure fuel - processed foods stripped of nutrients, fast grown foods lacking nutrients, lack of water, lack of adequate rest, lack of exercise and input of poisonous substances. Our bodies have amazing abilities to adjust and regenerate, but after long periods of abuse, is it surprising that they collapse?
Do you know how your physical body works? Are you looking after it? Or do you just drive the car without checking the water and the oil and hope it lasts?
The natural health of your body depends on the quality of the food and water you give it. To stay in balance, it needs natural food and water, exercise and rest - no artificial additives, no poisons to tax its elimination systems. Simple. Natural.

Are you well? Healthy? In touch with your nature? Do you live in sync with Nature and Mother Earth?

In future articles, I will address how to get back to your nature… the nitty gritty of being real, being human!

What we do...

At the Natural Health Centre in Worcester, we specialise in a Natural Life Enhancing Wholistic NaturMotion™ Treatment that integrates the Healing Arts of Spinal Care, Reflectology, Detox Pressure Points and Deep Tissue Massage, with Natural Organic Herbal Oils, in a pattern form.
The onehour hands-on physical treatment assists the client to restore health by finding the causes of pain, discomfort and dis-ease (the results of daily stressful living) and by utilising the natural regenerative ability of the body. All 11 body systems, including the muscular, nervous, skeletal, digestive, circulatory and lymphatic systems, etc., are brought into balance again and allowed to naturally re-align. The whole being, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, is treated as one integrated unit.
Clients are educated to take responsibility for their own state of well-being and health and are assisted towards this by Personalised Life-Enhancement Programmes. Programmes may consist of an initial series of treatments, depending on the individual’s needs, with regular monthly follow-ups, as well as Natural Mineral and Herbal Supplements (Nature Cure), Body Detox Methods, Posture Correction and Breathing & Stretching Exercises.
We have successfully assisted clients with headaches, migraines, backache, neck pain, depression, stress, sleep disorders, fatigue, abdominal pains, sports injuries, arthritis and hip problems, to name but a few.
Both my husband, Kelman, and me are qualified Natural Health Practitioners. We belong to the NaturMotion™ Association which is a founder member of the Confederation of Complimentary Health Associations of South Africa (COCHASA). NaturMotion™ has also just been formally defined as a modality.
Health runs as a theme through our life and we practice these principles in the Martial Arts as well. We run a full-time Martial Arts Centre where we give classes in Tai Chi Chuan and Karate for adults and children. Moving and doing from the centre, being in line and in centre, flowing life through – these are the things we live and teach.
Kelman is a 6th Dan Martial Artist and has formed his own Martial Arts System based on our principles of health, called the Inner Dimension. I am a 2nd Dan Black Belt, and our 13 year old son is growing up in the Martial Arts as well (Like Father Like Son!) (He’s a junior orange belt!).
I feel privileged to be able to pass on the knowledge that has made a great impact in my own life.

Understanding that every choice I make has a consequence, everything has a cause, any cause can be fixed and it’s all MY responsibility – that is powerful!

Introduction

This Blog will be used for general and specialised topics of Natural Health and Balanced Living for clients, friends and others interested...

To be used for Educational Purposes and a link for questions and networking.

I'm a qualified Natural Health Practitioner operating in Worcester, South Africa.

Coming up...
Natural First Aid, Mineral Tissue Salts, Breathing, Taking Responsibility for your own health and well-being, Breathing...