The bacteria in your body can get off balance. This can be caused by the intake of antibiotics, which destroys both good and bad bacteria. Taking probiotics can help to keep the bacteria in your body balanced.
Your intestines may reflect the first signs of an imbalance of bacteria. Read on to see the symptoms and what you can do to restore order.
The Large Intestine
Most of the bacteria is found in the large intestine where essential functions are done. Bacteria like the Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Clostridium help to stimulate the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. These can destroy toxic digestive by-products and can synthesize vitamin K. When your colon contains healthy colonies of bacteria, it prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria from the food you eat.
The Colon
In some situations the good bacteria in your colon may die, such as when you take antibiotics. The amount of good and bad bacteria in your colon is then off balance and the pathogenic organisms can grow out of control. You will then experience diarrhea. When this occurs, your colon fails to absorb the water as it should, resulting in a loss of fluids. Digestion is then usually impaired causing you to lose electrolytes, proteins, and vitamins.
The Small Intestine
Usually there are only a few bacteria in your small intestine. But if you have Crohn's disease or diabetes, you might suffer from an overgrowth of microorganisms in your small intestine. This can cause some very serious digestion problems.
Bad bacteria in your small intestine needs nutrients to grow. This interferes with absorption and then destroy cells, causing diarrhea because of the interference with digestion. You will then have abdominal discomfort and, if this persists, weight loss and malnutrition can occur.
Remedies
If the good and the bad bacteria in your body become off balance, there are things you can do to relieve pain and symptoms. If you are experiencing digestive problems, it is recommended that you eat probiotic foods containing live cultures of bacteria similar to the healthy types that inhabit your colon.
It might also help to consume prebiotic supplements. These contain indigestible carbohydrates which good bacteria use as food. Prebiotics can help to correct the imbalance of bacteria in your body and this will in turn correct your digestive tract.
Your body warns you when something is wrong. So, if you have any difficulties digesting food, your body is trying to tell you something. Be sure to listen to it. Add some probiotics to your diet because it will help to correct any imbalances of bacteria in your body.
