Click to enlarge

Research suggests that friendly intestinal flora work to benefit the body by several mechanisms. They can inhibit the growth of other organisms through competition for nutrients, prevent gut wall adherence of pathogens by physically occupying attachment sites, and lower the pH of the colon making it more acidic and less suitable to the growth of dangerous bacteria. Thus, healthy bowel flora normally provides a barrier to invading organisms.

However, pathogens can become established when the integrity of the intestinal environment is upset through stress, illness, antibiotic therapy and changes to diet.

Lactobacilli also have a role to play in assisting with immunity, allowign the body to fight off pathogens better - especially in the GI tract and vagina. Not only do beneficial bacteria protect the body from a variety of toxins; they also promote overall health by aiding in the proper assimilation and metabolism of nutrients.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are non-digestible short-chain polysaccharides that feed friendly bacteria. Human studies show FOS increases bifidobacteria and lactobacilli while also reducing the colonies of dangerous bacteria