Strong stomachs

Carius and Bactus and all their friends

The oral cavity contains bacteria that adhere to the teeth, gums and tongue. The bacteria that are unattached are rapidly transported down to the stomach where most of them die in the acidic stomach contents. Therefore, the acidic environment in the stomach provides important protection that prevents too many live bacteria from entering our intestines, especially those that may infect us and make us feel sick. In the upper portion of the small intestine, the duodenum, the bacteria count is still low because of persistent acidity and also because of pancreatic and biliary secretions which enter the intestine there and help inhibit bacterial growth. As we get further down into the intestinal tract the pH rises and so does the bacterial count.

The bacterial content of the colon is enormous. This is where bacteria can really thrive. They use the undigested food there (especially fiber) as a source of energy and to reproduce.

Only if we experience an imbalance in our intestinal flora or if we become infected by disease-producing (pathogenic) bacteria do we become ill with stomach problems. An imbalance in the intestinal flora may occur for several reasons, including stress, starvation or antibiotics.

Did you know that...
The total weight of bacteria in an adult is between one and one and half kilos.

How are they beneficial?

The job of the "beneficial" bacteria in the intestines is to break down the carbohydrates that we consume in our diet and convert them into lactic acid. These bacteria are also called lactobacilli. In various ways, these beneficial bacteria can prevent growth of harmful bacteria that may damage the intestinal wall and at worst, make us sick.

Ordinary yogurt and cultured milk products contain lactobacilli, but since the vast majority of lactobacilli do not survive the acidic environment of the gastric juices, they are unable to continue into the intestines where they should be doing good. For this reason such products cannot be considered to be probiotics. In order for a product to be classified as probiotic it must survive the entire trip down into the intestines and be able to adhere to the intestinal mucous membrane. Only then can they be of benefit! Probiotic bacteria have therefore been added to many dairy products in order to benefit the intestinal tract. One such product is ProViva, which you can read about here. You can also read more about ProViva research under "Research results".

There are many special circumstances where drinking products that contain probiotics may be particularly beneficial. One such example is when on holiday in a location where food hygiene is not the very best, where it is wise to avoid drinking the water or eating raw fruit and vegetables. When our sensitive stomachs are exposed to these harmful bacteria the result is often a stomach bug or traveler's diarrhea. But if we begin to consume products containing probiotic bacteria about two weeks before the trip, our intestinal defenses are much stronger and it is easier for us to resist these harmful bacteria that are foreign to our stomachs. The holiday is much more fun if we can avoid stomach problems and traveler's diarrhea.

Lactobacillus plantarum 299v is the name of the beneficial probiotic bacteria in ProViva. Among other things, clinical trials have shown that it has a beneficial effect on diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. ProViva reduces gas in upset stomachs, which is a common problem among persons with irritable bowel syndrome.

The probiotic effect persists as long as the beneficial bacteria are consumed, but once consumption stops the effect rapidly declines. After about 2 weeks there is no longer any significant benefit from what was previously consumed. Therefore, in order to achieve lasting benefit it is important to regularly consume products with probiotic properties.