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Health-Promoting Bacteria
How (and when) to use
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A
healthy digestive tract is essential for the human body to function
effectively
Probiotics can mean
the difference between robust heath,
or low vitality with varying degrees of sickness.
Before getting into the details of
how and when to use probiotics, it will help to have a general overview
of what they are and what role they play in your body..
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Intestinal
Microflora
Their role in your health |
There
are some 10¹³ or more bacteria in the human intestines, with a
total mass of approximately 1,5 kg. Over 400 species, both
pathogenic and symbiotic, inhabit this region. However, only a
few of the symbiotic species possess the beneficial qualities
necessary to maintain a healthy digestive tract.
The
effect of diet and life-style on intestinal microflora
Changes
in life-style have allowed harmful bacteria to become
dominant in the modern human digestive tract, particularly among
affluent communities in developed countries. In fact, it has
been found that the present-day ecology of the human
gastrointestinal tract is vastly different from that of humans
living in earlier times. Factors such as incorrect diet,
stress, environmental pollution and insufficient exercise
are known to have detrimental effects on the intestinal
microflora.
Another
important factor, which causes imbalances of the intestinal
flora, is the extensive use of antibiotics over the past
50 years. Not only have antibiotics played a major role in
decreasing the number of beneficial bacteria residing in the
intestinal tract, but also pathogenic bacteria have developed
resistance to many antibiotics, and this has allowed them to
proliferate at dangerous rates.
Imbalances
in the ecology of the gastro-intestinal tract cause patients to
suffer from common intestinal disorders such as dyspepsia,
constipation, distension and chronic diarrhoea.
Biological
control
Health
professionals and an informed general public are becoming
increasingly aware of these problems. Many already favour
biological control of the intestinal pathogenic microorganisms
using beneficial bacterial flora, which is naturally
antagonistic to the pathogens.
The beneficial bacteria
Two
major groups of bacteria, which occur naturally in the healthy
human intestinal tract, are particularly beneficial for the
maintenance of a healthy digestive tract.
They are:
Lactobacillus,
which resides predominantly in the small intestine
and
Bifidobacterium,
which resides in the large intestine.
These
two groups of microorganisms are closely associated with each
other.
Lactobacilli,
which are micro-aerophilic, reduce the level of oxygen in their
immediate surroundings, thus creating a favourable environment
for
Bifidobacteria,
which are anaerobic inhabitants.
The
ability of these bacteria to colonize the human intestines is an
important mechanism provided by nature to prevent the dominance
of pathogenic microorganisms and protect against other health
risks.
When their numbers in the digestive
tract are in the correct balance, they control the intestinal
flora and contribute not only to healthy digestion but also to
overall well-being as follows:
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By
producing organic acids such as lactic, acetic or formic
acid as well as hydrogen peroxide, probiotic bacteria
prevent and/or inhibit infection with a variety of
pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, yeasts and viruses. If an infection
already exists, probiotic preparations (biotherapeutics)
will inhibit the growth of various pathogens.
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By
producing an enzyme that splits lactose (milk sugar) which
is present in milk, probiotics help with the digestion of
this sugar, reducing the possibility of lactose intolerance.
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By stimulating the
functions of the immune system, probiotics help to fight
numerous pathogenic microorganisms with which they come into
contact and diminish the probability of developing a
disease. This is particularly evident in the decrease of
the number of colds and influenza among children regularly
taking this supplement.
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By enhancing the
absorption of nutrients, particularly of minerals such as
calcium, manganese and iron, probiotics stimulate the growth
and development of children and prevent osteoporosis in
grown-ups.
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By
manufacturing vitamins of the B group
(including vit. B12 ).
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By suppressing some of
the undesirable immune reactions, probiotics can help
control some of the food allergies. They have also been
reported to alleviate problems associated with asthma.
Due
to these and other properties, probiotic bacteria play an important role in:
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normalizing
bowel function by correcting constipation and diarrhoea
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controlling
the overgrowth of Candida albicans
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decreasing
flatulence and abdominal bloating
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detoxifying
carcinogens and / or preventing their formation preventing
the formation of acne among teenagers, normalizing various inflammatory reactions of the intestinal epithelium
and repairing the epithelium.
By maintaining healthy
intestines, probiotics play a part in decreasing the chances
of the development of serious disorders such as Crohn’s
disease or even colon cancer.
Why do we lose beneficial bacteria?
The
extensive use of antibiotics, stress, incorrect diet,
incorrect life style and environmental pollution lead to the
loss of beneficial bacteria normally present in the
intestines and of the delicate balance between various
groups of microbial flora within the human body. This in
turn may result in various disturbances of the digestive
system such as diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence,
dyspepsia, abdominal distention, spastic colon and/or the
overgrowth of some, potentially harmful organisms, such as
Candida albicans.
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Bioflora Probiotic Supplements
we supply and when to use them:
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Infantiflora
age 0-12 months
As the name suggests, this is
for infants.
When should an infant be
given probiotics?
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A baby
acquires its intestinal microflora from the birth canal of its
mother during natural childbirth. This means that:
1. The mother must have a
healthy balance of microflora in her birth canal, (these ones
also inhabit the intestines).
2. The baby must have a
natural birth to benefit immediately from these bacteria.
This already suggests two
instances where a baby should be given probiotics.
To go into a little more
detail:
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The dominant bacterium in the intestines of healthy,
breast-fed infants is
Bifidobacterium infantis
(B. infantis),
which is closely related to
Bifidobacterium longum
and
Bifidobacterium bifidum.
Both bacteria occur naturally in the large intestine
of healthy adults.
-
Thanks to certain substances present in mother’s
milk that stimulate the growth of
B. infantis,
more than 99% of the intestinal flora of a healthy
breast-fed infant should be made up of this
bacteria.
Benefits
of B.
infantis to infants
The dominance of
B. infantis
has a number of benefits to a growing infant:
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By producing organic acids such as lactic, acetic or
formic acid,
B. infantis
prevents infection with, and inhibits the growth of
undesirable or even pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and
viruses.
-
By producing an enzyme that splits lactose (milk
sugar) which is present in milk,
B.
infantis
helps with the digestion of this sugar and reduces
the possibility of lactose intolerance developing.
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By stimulating the immune system of infants,
B. infantis
enables them to fight numerous pathogenic
microorganisms with which they come into contact and
diminishes the chances of developing a disease.
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B. infantis
enhances the absorption of nutrients,
particularly of minerals such as calcium, required
for baby’s growth.
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By ensuring good nitrogen absorption and
simultaneously improving nutrient digestion, the
presence of
B. infantis
tends to increase babies’ appetite which in effect
leads to faster weight gain.
Infantiflora
supplements contain high numbers of freeze-dried cells
of
Bifidobacterium
infantis
(1 billion per capsule), prepared in a form easily
administered to infants. These supplements should be
used in the following cases:
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after caesarian delivery;
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after antibiotic therapy of the infant or of the
breast-feeding mother;
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when breast-feeding is not possible;
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when infants have loose stools or diarrhoea;
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when infants show symptoms of digestive disorders;
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when infants show symptoms of colic;
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when infants have thrush in the mouth;
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when infants develop nappy rash;
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when infants undergo steroids therapy, chemotherapy
or radiotherapy;
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when its is desirable to boost the functions of the
immune system;
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when infants do not have sufficient appetite and do
not gain weight;
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when infants have to travel.
Recommended
dosage of Infantiflora
This
product is recommended for infants under the age of
12 months.
Dosage:
1. General
To establish
B. infantis
after Caesarian section
in the baby's gut,
place a small amount of the contents of a capsule in the
baby's mouth
during feeding for a few feeds if
breast-fed. If bottle-fed, mix the contents of a capsule
into the milk. For all the other conditions mentioned above excluding
diarrhoea, thrush and nappy rash, administer the contents of one capsule
once a day with
water or milk for 7 days or until a normalization is
seen, or 3 times a day while undergoing
steroids therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
2. Diarrhoea:
First two days:
Administer the contents of one capsule three times per day with
water or milk.
Third to eighth day:
Administer the contents of one capsule once a day with water
or milk.
3. Thrush:
Spread the contents of
one
capsule throughout the baby’s mouth using sterile gauze
once a day, preferably at night time.
4. Nappy rash:
Spread the contents of one capsule over the affected areas
three times a day.
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By
maintaining the health of your child’s digestive tract,
you will be laying a foundation for health in
adulthood.
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Kiddie-forte
Age 12 months to 14
years
To restore and maintain
intestinal health in children aged 12 months to 14 years
of age.
See
also
"Intestinal
Microflora,
their role in your health"
above.
This supplement
should be used in the following cases:
-
after
treatment with antibiotics
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when
there are symptoms of digestive disorders such as
diarrhoea, constipation or indigestion
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when there is thrush in the mouth
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during
steroid therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
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if
there are food allergies
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when
children have to travel
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when
it is desirable to boost the functions of the immune
system, particularly before winter
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when
children lose their appetite
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when teenagers suffer from acne problems.
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while experiencing
problems associated with asthma
This product is the mainstay of
your child's intestinal health. It contains high numbers
of live, freeze-dried cells of the
following probiotics which are the same as for
adults, and build the foundation for future adult
health.
Lactobacillus
acidophilus
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
It is often difficult
to get children to take tablets or capsules. Younger
children cannot swallow tablets or capsules. It is also
easy to forget to give them their supplements.
With
Kiddie-forte your children won't forget, they will
remind you because they
love the
flavoured chewable
tablets.
In case you are
concerned about sweeteners and flavours as any parent
should be, the "sweetener" is actually called
fructooligosaccharide, (F. O. S.),
a
sweet-tasting sugar which is not absorbed by your body
but which beneficial gut bacteria absolutely thrive
upon.
It has no impact as regards weight gain, but imparts a
pleasant sweetness to the tablet and
selectively
stimulates growth, multiplication and various beneficial
activities of the intestinal bacteria it is mixed
into. Most importantly, it assists in the stimulation of
the body’s immune system!
It enjoys GRAS
(Generally Regarded As Safe) classification by the FDA.
The
flavouring is a nature identical synthetic pineapple flavouring.
These tablets have been given to autistic children with
no ill-effects, and have produced by far
the best results of any probiotic supplement we have
tried to date in terms of eliminating diarrhoea,
returning stools to normal and resulting in a very
noticeable improvement concerning autistic behaviour.
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Children love the
flavoured chewable
Kiddie-forte tablets. |
Recommended dosage of Kiddie-forte
when
needed as described above:
1-6 years of age; 1 tablet
per day
7-14 years of age: 2 to 3 tablets
per day
Take on an
empty stomach.
Intestiflora
Age 14
years TO 120 YEARS
(If you are older
than 120 and would like to take intestiflora please
contact us - we would like to share some of your health
tips with our customers).
To restore and maintain
intestinal health in adults aged 14 years and above.
See
"Intestinal
Microflora,
their role in your health"
above.
Intestiflora is a supplement which is beneficial
to take on a continuous basis but especially
under the following conditions:
-
after
treatment with antibiotics
-
when
there are symptoms of digestive disorders such as diarrhoea, constipation or indigestion
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when there is thrush in the mouth
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during
steroid therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
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when
it is desirable to boost the functions of the immune
system, particularly before winter
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when it is desirable to reduce blood cholesterol
levels
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when
suffering from
irritable
bowel syndrome, urogenital infections,
intestinal Infections
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Intestiflora is supplied in gelatine capsule form
and provides the required mega doses of
freeze-dried
probiotic bacteria, which were originally
isolated from healthy human intestines.
Each capsule contains:
1 (one) billion viable cells of
Lactobacillus acidophilus,
Bifidobacterium bifidum
and
Bifidobacterium longum
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Supplements that contain high numbers of
probiotic
bacteria [at least (one) 1 billion per capsule, per day] should
be taken to restore the correct and
beneficial balance of the intestinal
flora.
By restoring and maintaining the correct
microflora
in your gut you can make a very
important contribution to your general
health, and enjoy increased vigour and
better quality of life.
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Suggested
dose:
Restoration
dose:
1
to 2 capsules three times a day for 1 to 2
weeks.
Maintenance
dose:
1
to 3 capsules per day as required (see
leaflets).
Capsules should be taken preferably on an empty
stomach or 30 minutes before meals with a glass
of water.
In severe cases of chronic abnormalities,
probiotic treatment should last for at least
several weeks, accompanied by careful monitoring
and initial supportive treatment.
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Vagiforte
Restores the normal vaginal microflora
For a balanced ecology within the
vagina, you need to have sufficient
numbers of
Lactobacillus
and
Bifidobacterium bacteria.
These two groups of naturally occurring
beneficial (“probiotic”) bacteria
maintain a healthy microbial balance
within the vagina and suppress the
growth of disease-causing
microorganisms.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THRUSH?
If
you:
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experience itching or burning in
your vagina;
-
notice a discharge;
-
observe inflammation, irritation
(which may be painful);
-
observe red patches on the vagina
and the surrounding skin
you
probably have vaginal thrush (an
infection caused most commonly by a
yeast Candida albicans) or
another infection of the vagina.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THRUSH
Did
you know that the use of antibiotics
could kill off “thrush-fighting”
bacteria in the vagina?
Did
you know that prolonged stress and/or an
inadequate diet could likewise
significantly decrease the number of
bacteria protecting the health of your
vagina?
Vagiforte
restores the population of
“thrush-controlling” bacteria
Did
you know that changes in the hormonal
balance (e.g. during the last few days
before your period, or if you are using
oral contraceptives) or an impaired
immune system can also alter the
microbial balance of the vagina and
result in the development of thrush?
Did
you know that the excessive use of soaps
and deodorants could increase the
likelihood of developing thrush?
Vagiforte
restores the balance of the bacterial
population within the vagina
Did
you know that chronic thrush might lead
to serious gynaecological and obstetric
complications? If left untreated,
chronic thrush can negatively affect
your well-being and general health.
Vagiforte
prevents and
controls thrush the natural way
Can vaginal thrush be transmitted to
your partner?
Normally, vaginal thrush is not
transmitted during sex. However, if a
woman has chronic or recurrent thrush
and the partner’s immune system is not
functioning satisfactorily, such a
transfer can occur. In such cases, to
prevent re-infection, both partners
should undergo suitable treatment.
Vagiforte
capsules and tablets contain a mixture
of lyophilized lactic acid bacteria,
namely
Lactobacillus acidophilus,
Bifidobacterium bifidum
and
Bifidobacterium longum,
which are natural inhabitants of the
human vagina and intestinal tract.
Each
capsule contains a sum total of at least
3 billion
viable cells of
Lactobacillus
acidophilus,
Bifidobacterium
bifibum and
Bifidobacterium
longum bacteria (in a
lyophilized form), and each tablet
contains a sum total of at least 1
billion viable cells of the three
bacteria listed above.
Lactic acid bacteria control the
overgrowth of pathogenic microorganisms
in the human digestive tract and prevent
their transfer to the uro-genital tract.
Administration of high doses of these
bacteria helps to prevent the
development of vaginal thrush caused by
Candida albicans, frequently
associated with broad-spectrum
antibiotic treatment.
Dosage and direction for use:
One capsule to be taken orally once a
day with water (preferably on an empty
stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast)
for five consecutive days. Thereafter
one tablet to be inserted into the
vagina once a day, preferably in the
evening at bedtime for the next five
days.
Repeat the treatment if required.
Identification:
Capsules: White-and-maroon capsules
containing white to cream-coloured
granular material with a slight lactic
acid smell.
Tablets: White, long oval tablets.
Presentation:
5
white-and-maroon capsules and 5 white
tablets, in two separate blister packs,
packed in a box.
Storage conditions:
Store below 80C (in
refrigerator or freezer).
Vagiforte
is
administered to restore and maintain the
normal vaginal flora (mainly lactic acid
bacteria) frequently destroyed by the
administration of broad-spectrum
antibiotics and the use of
disinfectants, soaps and deodorants
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