By Karen Langston CN
Your body is made up of approximately 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion) micro-organisms and your intestinal tract has about a thousand known species, good and bad. In fact you have more bacteria in your body than cells (about 10 trillion). More than seventy five percent of your immune system is in your gut
Some of the more common signs of an unbalanced gut are bloating, constipation, diarrheal and gas.Even if you are not displaying the above symptoms, the following are contributions to an unhealthy gut and microflora:
  • Antibiotics
  • Contraceptives or birth control
  • Over-the-counter pain medication or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s)
  • Surgery, especially abdominal or bowel
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, processed foods and fast foods
  • Genetically modified foods such as soy, corn and wheat
  • Diets low in fermentable fibers
  • Food allergies/sensitivities
  • Toxic, rancid oils
  • Stress (especially chronic stress)
  • Overweight or obesity

What does it mean to have an imbalance of intestinal flora?

You have numerous species of bacteria in your intestines. They are a delicate ratio of good bacteria which keeps you healthy and has the ability to keep bad bacteria in check. When you engage in the above lifestyle points, you disrupt the delicate balance. When this happens, you start to become sick more often, and, depending on the condition, can lead to other problems like allergies, food sensitivities, disease and other health problems, including cancer.

An improper balance of gut flora has been linked to diseases and numerous studies indicate the connection between an altered microflora and the following conditions:
  • Autism
  • Depression
  • Thyroid disorders including Hashimoto’s
  • Inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Food allergies/sensitivities
  • Arthritis
  • Eczema
  • Colds and flu
  • Yeast Infections

As bad as this list looks numerous studies are indicating proper microflora can help with these conditions and the possibility of reversal of some through an improved diet, the right nutrients and supplementation with probiotics.

When it comes to probiotics it is not a matter of “one size fits all” or any probiotic will do.  Probiotics can be tailored to your current lifestyle needs. There are specific strains for Candida, after antibiotic use, visiting a third world country, chronic diarrheal. There are also specific strains for children and adults of all ages.

When it comes to your lifestyle find ways to reduce your stress levels whether it is through meditation, working with a qualified therapist, and adding physical movement such as 30 minutes of exercise daily.
Learn how eating the right foods can support your digestive system as well as boost your immune system. Natural ways to increase good bacteria is through fermented foods such as kimichi and fermented drinks such as Kombucha.
At Sanoviv our menu includes fermented foods to naturally increase friendly bacteria. We also have an incredible line of professional grade, third party independently tested probiotics in our online store. If you are suffering with any of the symptoms listed reach out today and speak with one of our qualified Program Specialists today.