For some of us, especially those trapped in traditional Western medical modes of thinking, bacteria is a dirty word. Hence the antibacterial hygiene products and antibiotics our society consumes in ever-growing quantities.
Some bacteria cause disease, others, if nourished properly, can go a long way toward preventing it.
By the time we are four days old, our digestive systems are loaded with bacteria. Because the stomach is highly acidic, most bacteria settle in the small and large intestines, and are present in particularly large quantities in the colon. Under normal circumstances, bacteria in the digestive system live in balance and harmony, but factors such as poor diets and overuse of a variety of medications can throw the system off balance and lead to a host of difficulties. Proper protection and nourishment of our healthy bacteria, then, are very important to good overall health. It has been said that there are more bacteria in our digestive systems than there are cells in our body.