Probiotics – The Healthy Bacteria You Don’t Want to Kill Gastrointestinal complaints are a common cause of lost work days and visits to the doctor. Like millions of others, you may not realize that bloating, acid reflux, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea are not a normal part of your digestive process. Symptoms like these indicate an imbalance in your intestinal microflora that may lead to more serious disease.

Where Did All Your Good Bacteria Go? Processed-Food Diet - A processed-food diet filled with refined flours and synthetic sugars deplete your natural gut bacteria and encourage the growth of candida yeast. Caffeine - Too much coffee, tea or cola causes hyper-secretions in the stomach, which can lead to chronic gastrointestinal disease. Antacids - Antacids interfere with your normal digestive process by inhibiting the release of necessary digestive enzymes and probiotics. Tobacco - Smoking and chewing tobacco products depletes essential intestinal microflora. Prescription Antibiotics - Prescription antibiotics do not differen- tiate between beneficial & harmful bacteria; they just eradicate everything! Steroids - Corticosteroids destroy your healthy gut bacteria if taken over long periods of time. X-Rays - Excessive use of X-Rays can also damage your intestinal flora. If you have these procedures often, your depleted gut bacteria must be replaced. Fluoride - Fluoride has been proven to cause chronic gastrointestinal complaints due to depleted gut microflora. Aging - The more mature gut will greatly benefit from probiotic supplementation as probiotics deplete as you age.