What is lactobacillus acidophilus?

This good bacteria lives in the mouth, intestines, and female genitals and does not cause disease.

It helps produce Vitamin K as well as lactose (the enzyme which breaks down the sugars in milk ((lactose)) ).

Lactobacillus acidophilus is found in fermented foods, and is acid resistant and tolerates bile.

It will compete against bad bacteria such as E coli, Salmonella, Candida, Staphylococcus, Listeria, and Clostridium. 

What are the benefits of healthy bacteria?

Our colon contains 400-500 varieties of good bacteria, fungi, yeast, and virus.

Good bacteria helps acidify the colon which helps stop to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria.

Good bacteria improves the immune system by stimulating the formation of antibodies.

Good bacteria helps produce Vitamins K, B, & E.

The bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus helps kill toxins.

Good bacteria helps reduce bowel gas and fights bad breath.

Good bacteria helps form 30 different neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine.

Good bacteria helps stop diarrhea and loosen up constipation.

What is "fermented food"?

Fermentation is when a food is exposed to bacteria and yeasts either naturally or through the air. It is the bacterial conversion of starches and sugars into lactic acid and acetic acid.

Fermentation was discovered thousands of years ago, before refrigeration, as a form of food preservation.

Common fermented foods are:

Vegetables: sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles.

Soyfoods: miso, tempeh, natto, say sauce.

Dairy: kefir, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, cottage cheese.

Beverages: kombucha, rejuvelac.

Fermented food are now seen as super foods  for their amazing health benefits. 

Why are fermented foods good for health?

Fermented foods are good for the digestive system which is extremely important as this system controls 85% of the immune system.

The digestive system has about 100 trillion bacteria which need to stay balanced between good and bad bacteria in order to function best.

The stomach is very acidic, and designed to kill off bad organisms (fungi, viruses, worms, bad bacteria, parasites) so that only acid-tolerant-good microbes move through into the small intestine where nutrition absorption takes place.

Stomach acidity declines with age, meaning that more and more bad microbes pass through into the small intestine as peoeple age. Studies are now linking dementia, age related disease to pathogenic microbes found in the small intestines.

Fermented foods are acidic and help the stomach maintain it's acidity. They also help with keeping the stomach detoxified so that it can do it's job better. Fermented foods also have a very high level of probiotics (good bacteria) which pass through into the small intestine.

Fermented foods also help produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which helps with bowel movements, and therefore help prevent constipation.

Fermented foods also help prevent obesity and diabetes, regulate fat absorption, and help with mineral absorption.

What is GABA?

GABA is a neurotranamittor which controls fear and anxiety when neurons become overexcited.

A deficiency of GABA can help explain why some people have anxiety disorders or panic attacks.

GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone.

GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier which is why supplementation is probably ineffective.

The amino acid L-glutamine is the precursor to GABA production.

Zinc and B6 also help in the production of GABA.

Some foods can stimulate the body to produce more GABA; such as oolong tea, cherry tomatoes, anything fermented (kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh).