The human gut is home to trillions of micro-organisms. In a healthy body the ‘friendly’ organisms keep the enemies at bay, so we can view our friendly bacteria as a private army, without which we would be prey to countless pathogenic species and would be unlikely to survive for very long. The bulk of the gut flora are in fact bacteria, and the human gut is estimated to contain as many as 100 trillion individuals, representing anything between 300 and 1000 different species, with a total weight of about three pounds.

Apart from repressing the overgrowth of harmful micro-organisms, both bacterial and fungal (for example Candida) these friendly bacteria perform a variety of other useful functions. They assist in the digestion of unutilised nutrients, they help to stimulate cellular growth, and perhaps most importantly they form the backbone of the immune system. More than 80% of our immunity is estimated to reside in the gut wall and nearly all of our disease can be traced to a damaged or abnormal gut flora. These bacteria adhere to the mucosal lining of the gut, preventing invasion from pathogenic organisms.

Unfortunately many dietary and environmental factors in our current society conspire to disrupt this vital protection. Some of these are more avoidable than others but it is important to be aware of the measures we can take to help keep our internal army intact. The typically western diet, high in animal protein, processed foods, simple sugars, denatured flours and poor quality fats tends to alter the acid-alkaline balance of the body, resulting in an increase in the numbers of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi. Our ancestors were protected against this by consuming large quantities of alkaline forming plants and roots. A whole food diet that creates such a balance is the first priority.

The prevalence of antibiotics in mainstream medical treatment has had a profoundly disruptive effect on gut health, as these drugs destroy good bacteria as well as bad, being unable to distinguish between the types.

It has become fashionable to introduce probiotics, often through yoghurt or other probiotic drinks, or even to take daily probiotic supplements, but the bacterial count in these is extremely low in relation to the number of good bacteria in a healthy gut. Fermented foods tend to be more effective and some of these, for example buttermilk and kefir, are also of dairy origin. Others such as kimchi and sauerkraut are vegetable based. Each area of the world has its own fermented foods than can be beneficial to gut health.

Different species of good bacteria survive and thrive in totally different conditions, and each performs different functions in the gut. The science of this is still not adequately understood and this makes it very difficult to know what types will help in any set of circumstances. The Ayurvedic medicines which are the equivalent of probiotics are aimed at supporting the whole spectrum of healthy bacteria and for this reason the remedies have different tastes and smells – salty, sour, sweet, etc. One such medicine is Chaparral; this very bitter herb has powerful antibacterial and antifungal effects while helping to nourish the friendly bacteria. Other Ayurvedic medicines derived from coral help to balance the pH of the gut.

Gut health is an absolute priority in Ayurvedic treatment, and this is the reason that, for example, in any rejuvenation program it receives close attention. Some beneficial precautions that everybody is encouraged to observe include concentrating on whole foods, eating the correct amounts at the right times, cutting down on simple sugars, and taking time to relax, especially ensuring that eight hours of quality sleep are part of the daily routine. Your inner army is there to protect you, but it needs your help.

Next time: Suppression of Natural Urges