Gas: Effective probiotics will inhibit gas and toxin producing bacteria
It is normal for all of us have some intestinal gas. It is caused by the bacteria and yeast that live in our intestines. When the digestive systems are working effectively, most of the food is digested and absorbed leaving little food residue for gas producing bacteria and yeast to consume or ferment. However if our digestion is reduced for any reason an extra amount of partially digested food may pass into the intestinal tract. As we age our digestive function declines. Stress also reduces our digestive function. Any partially undigested food entering the lower intestinal tract can be consumed and metabolized by bacteria and yeast, producing gas as a byproduct. In addition, excess partially digested food acts like fertilizer for gas producing bacteria, increasing their numbers resulting in additional gas production.
Overeating can have the same effect. If we eat more than we can digest it may also result in some partially digested food passing into the intestine resulting in overgrowth of gas producing bacteria and excess gas. If one has an excess of gas producing bacteria (which may be also toxin producing bacteria) there usually will be excess gas production. Effective probiotics will inhibit the growth of gas and toxin producing bacteria thus helping to relieve the gas, bloating and cramping that may be associated with these unfriendly bacteria.
Some people are sensitive to certain foods that intestinal bacteria may use to form gas – such as lactose (a milk sugar). People that have lactose intolerance lack sufficient amounts of the lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose. The inability to digest lactose is a cause of intolerance to milk products (lactose intolerance). Lactose intolerance results in undigested lactose (milk sugar) passing into the intestines where bacteria consume it and produce gas as a byproduct. Water entering the intestinal tract causes cramping and urgent bowel movements. Lactose intolerance can be improved by taking the milk sugar digesting enzyme lactase along with milk products, or by taking a probiotic or both. If the lactose is digested there is no excess gas or bloating.
Beans are another example of food that may pass partially digested into the intestine and is converted into gas by bacteria. Beans are difficult to digest and some people do not digest them very well. For these people the partially digested beans pass into the intestines, cause an increase in gas and gas producing bacteria. Consumption of a powerful probiotic and a digestive enzyme product can help reduce the excess gas resulting from eating beans. |
