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I was surprised at the response we received from the last E-alert I sent out on probiotics. It apparently touched a core in many of you. Because of this response I thought that I might add a few more points to this topic.
It is estimated that about 70% of our immune system resides in the lymphatic tissue of the G.I. tract. Dr. David Williams very succinctly explained, “When you have a break in the mucosal barrier, toxins and undigested foods can more readily enter the blood stream. This is often the beginning of food allergies and systemic toxicity problems” which results in multiple signs and symptoms like headache, fatigue, brain fog, classical allergy with hives, asthma, etc, but also just not feeling well.
Stress of all kinds, as well as real physical trauma, cause major insults to our bodies but recent research shows that providing abundant Probiotics to our intestines can literally prevent or reduce this trauma.
A study in Greece with trauma patients showed that treatment with probiotics reduced inflammation and risk of pneumonia and blood born infections as well as length of stay in intensive care and time spent on mechanical ventilation. An animal study revealed that when newborn animals were separated from their mothers they developed serious illness or disease. However, when pre-treated with adequate Probiotics no damage to the young animals occurred.
Those studies are important because they show us how we can protect ourselves from the sequelae of both physical and emotional injury. As allergy is the number one problem in all of the patients that I see, I can’t emphasize sufficiently the importance of our gut flora in reducing allergic disorders. The most important time to introduce these organisms is when we are born, but it is never to late to replenish by supplementing. As I pointed out in our recent alert, we need to stimulate our secretory IgA immunoglobin levels, first using the yeast probiotic, Saccharomyces Boulardii and then using Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Factor 1). [Please note: you may take these both together but wait to add Factor 1 until after you’ve gradually worked up to one capsule a day of Saccharomyces Boulardii. When your bottle of Sacharomyces Boulardii is finished, you may stay on Factor 1 or Ther-Biotic Complete for maintenance.]
These probiotics are anti-inflammatory, anti-toxin, anti-allergy, anti-candida, and powerful boosters over all to our immune system. Remember, if you have taken an antibiotic it can take you over 2 years re-grow your normal flora. Supplementation here is especially critical.
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Allan Lieberman, M.D., F.A.A.E.M.
Clinical Director
Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine