Intestinal Microflora and Probiotics
Introduction
Uncle Harry's Natural Products formulates and supplies custom blends of very high bacterial count, multiple-strain Acidophilus and Bifidus dietary supplements at affordable prices. Our initial offering, Uncle Harry's Probiotic Formula contains 6 different highly viable probiotic bacteria, most specific for the small and large intestines. Four are strains of Lactobacilli (L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus) and two are strains of Bifidobacteria (B. longum and B. bifidum). To be effective, we feel that a probiotic product should have a high bacterial concentration and a good mix of different genera. Hence our proprietary formula contains strains of viable freeze-dried microorganisms with a total bacterial count of 170 billion per gram guaranteed at the time of expiration. This is a much higher count than contained in most products on the market today. If you have been doing some comparison-shopping, we expect you will be very pleased with our price for such a high potency product. But most importantly, we hope you will be very pleased with the results.
This brochure explains what probiotics are, how and why they work, the effectiveness of our new probiotic dietary supplement and health benefits associated with their usage.
What are Probiotics?
The word probiotic is derived from the Greek meaning "for life", Probiotics are "mono- or mixed cultures of live microorganisms which, when applied to animal or man, beneficially affect the host by improving the properties of the indigenous microflora". Common terms for probiotics are "friendly", "beneficial" or "healthy" bacteria.
Probiotic bacteria are generally, though not exclusively, lactic acid bacteria and include Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. bulgaricus, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L. rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. longum, B. infantis and S. thermophilus. They are used in the production of yogurt, various fermented milk products and dietary supplements.
Balancing the Intestinal Ecosystem
The condition and function of the gastrointestinal tract is essential to our well being. After the respiratory tract, the GI tract constitutes the second largest body surface area, comparable in size to a tennis court. During a normal life time about 60 tons of food pass through this canal.
In 1908, the Russian Nobel Prize Laureate Ellie Metchnikoff first hypothesized that a high concentration of lactobacilli in intestinal flora were important for health and longevity in humans. Yet, the importance of these bacteria in the GI tract has been neglected for a long time, while the focus was merely placed on enteric pathogens and other factors leading to gastrointestinal "disorders".
The composition of the gastrointestinal flora differs among individuals, and also during life within the same individual. Many factors, such as diet, medication, infection or stress, can upset this balance. Interactions of typical intestinal bacteria may also contribute to stabilization or destabilization. A state of balance within the microbial population within the GI tract can be called "eubiosis" while an imbalance is termed "dysbiosis". For optimum "gut flora balance", the beneficial bacteria, such as the gram-positive Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, should predominate. The use of probiotics may be the most natural and common sense approach for keeping this balance.
Microbial Numbers and the Intestinal Ecosystem
The GI tract of an adult human is estimated to harbor about 1014 viable bacteria. This is approximately 10 times the total number of cells in our body. These live bacteria account for around 2 lbs of a body's weight and are known as intestinal or gut flora. Viruses, fungi and protozoa can also be present, but these normally form only a minor component of the total resident population of microorganisms in healthy individuals. The density of microorganisms in the gut flora increases dramatically from 101-103/ml in the stomach to 1010-1012/gm in the large intestine.
How do Probiotics Work?
Probiotics need to be ingested regularly for any health promoting properties to persist. It is possible to manipulate the composition of the gut microflora through dietary supplementation with probiotics. This concept is gaining popularity throughout the world. Probiotic effects may be due to direct action, modulation of local immunity, modifications of gut ecology or a combination of these effects.
Uncle Harry's Probiotic Supplement
An effective probiotic dietary supplement should:
- exert a beneficial effect on the host
- be nonpathogenic and non toxic
- contain a large number of viable cells
- be capable of surviving and metabolizing in the gut
- remain viable during storage and use
We are confident that our Acidophilus/Bifidus blend meets these requirements. And the rigorous selection criteria, in terms of bacterial quantity and quality, will lead to a favorable clinical impact.
Uncle Harry's 6 strain formula has a total bacterial count of 170 billion Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria per gram guaranteed at the time of expiration. This is verified by certified laboratory analysis. Those results are available upon request.
Uncle Harry's high bacterial count, broad-spectrum formulation and high viability of friendly bacteria all contribute to its effectiveness. It is dairy free, hypoallergenic, and does not contain any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
We do not use prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), in our formulations, due to the possibility of allergic reactions by highly sensitive individuals. We suggest getting FOS from foods such as onion, garlic, artichoke, asparagus and dandelion.
Dosage
Growth characteristics of probiotics appear to be species specific and depend on the amount ingested and duration administered. The more the bacterial imbalance in the digestive system, the higher the dosage that may be required for positive and measurable results.
For adults, we suggest 1 scoop (0.75 gram) first thing after awakening in the morning for one week. Mix with water and drink. Beginning the 2nd week, you can take 1 scoop on rising and add 1 scoop before bedtime. Depending on your body's needs, you can increase or decrease this dosage. Bottles should be kept tightly closed and refrigerated to retain maximum potency. Our probiotic dietary supplements are shipped locally, nationally, and internationally with gel ice packs. This product only ships overnight, 2nd day, or 3 day. We will quote you the shipping price.
Health Benefits of Probiotics
Health benefits attributed to the consumption of probiotics include maintenance of the normal gut flora, alleviation of lactose (milk-sugar) intolerance, improvement of digestive processes and absorption of nutrients, and stimulation of the body's immune system*. Furthermore, other health benefits of probiotics are being investigated at various medical and research centers around the world.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. *