There is a battle raging inside your gut each day. It is between the good guys and the bad guys…bacteria, that is.

There are at least 400 different known species of individual bacteria living inside your gut. Not to mention viruses and parasites that live there too.

Sound shocking? It may since we live in a conditioned world led to believe bacteria is the enemy and we want to kill it at all costs. In this age of overused antibacterial soaps, laundry detergents, children’s toys (the list could go on and on), it’s time we STOP and rethink our opinion of bacteria.

Probiotics (the good guys) are friendly bacteria that live in our gut. “Pro” means “for” and “biotics” means “life”. The most common form of probiotics is lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidum.

Probiotics work in your favor by inhibiting growth of “bad” bacteria, aiding digestion, manufacturing important B vitamins, and boosting immune function. They also produce an enzyme that digests dairy foods.

Who is likely to be deficient in beneficial bacteria? People using antibiotics, eating a poor diet, or suffering from diarrhea.

What happens when the balance is in favor of the “bad” bacteria? Conditions such as constipation, hypertension, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, candidiasis, food allergies and antibiotic associated diarrhea have all been speculatively linked to flora imbalance.

Antibiotics are a mixed blessing. While they can help clear out a bacterial infection, they show no mercy for the good guys either. Antibiotics wipe out all gut flora. By clearing out the beneficial bacteria, it makes you more prone to opportunistic organisms. Your first line of defense is no longer there to fight. This is why yeast infections are quite common following antibiotic therapy.

Overuse of antibiotics, once thought of as the “miracle medicine”, has also contributed to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Drugs that were once effective are no longer useful. More than 19,000 people die every year from untreatable diseases caused by drug resistant bacteria.

The bacterial enemies are never gone for good anyway. It is a constant battle down there. The food we eat, beverages we drink and air we breathe bring continual supplies of bacteria. The battle will go on as long as we live.

So what can you do? Build up army of good bacteria in your gut. This can be done a few different ways. Yogurt that contains live cultures can be consumed on a daily basis. In addition to lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium, you may see lactobacillus bulgaricus on the label also. Avoid yogurt that contains sugars. These can inhibit probiotic cultures from thriving.

If daily yogurt isn’t your thing, probiotic supplements are live, friendly bacteria that can be taken to improve intestinal microbial balance. Look on the label for the names lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium.

Probiotics come in forms of capsules, powders, and liquids. Debate remains on which is the best form to take. Powder is generally the preferred form, mixed with unchilled water. The friendly bacteria can get in the gut faster, regardless of digestive capabilities.

Light, moisture and heat destroy bacteria potency so look for heavy, amber, glass bottles in the refrigerated section of your health food store.

The amount of probiotics necessary to replenish the intestines varies according to the extent of depletion and presence of harmful bacteria. One to two billion colony-forming units (CFUs) per day are considered the minimum amount for the healthy maintenance of intestinal micro flora.

Don’t start off like gangbusters. Start adding probiotics to your diet slowly. Intestinal gas, bloating or cramping can be common at first. This is a sign the “good” guys are setting up shop and the “bad” guys are being crowded out. The body adjusts in a short amount of time and the side effects disappear.

Feed your gut for good microbial health and these bacterial buddies will bring you a lifetime of benefit.