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Human health depends on the presence of some bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, in the digestive tract and the vaginal mucous membranes.
There are at least 400 kinds of microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal tract. This amounts to about three pounds of bacteria in the healthy human intestine.
These bacteria are essential in the functioning of the intestinal tract. They are integral ingredients to improving nutrition and protecting against disease. In fact, the word "probiotic" which is used to refer to these friendly bacteria, comes from two Greek words meaning "for life."
Maintaining and promoting the growth of helpful bacteria, while destroying the harmful strains, is vital to health. If harmful bacteria grow in too great a proportion, serious consequences can arise.
A number of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (rheumatoid arthritis of the spine), colitis, diabetes, meningitis, myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular defect which causes muscular weakness and debility, thyroid disease and bowel cancer are thought to result from significantly altered bowel flora.
The antibiotics administered to kill harmful bacteria affect the helpful strains as well, creating severe side effects and repercussions for digestion and immunity.
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