Good Bacterium Aiding NOT Ailing
Good Bacterium Aiding NOT Ailing
Bacteria have carved a bad name for themselves because of their popularity when it comes to causing diseases that are even fatal to many. Remember that bacteria in rarely cooked burger patties which have caused quite stir just a few years ago? That is just one strain of bacteria but it still has managed to be that well-known because of its detriment to the human body. But how about looking bacteria in a positive light? Impossible? Come on, give good bacteria a chance. Now the spotlight is on for the good bacteria, which are also known as probiotics.
Good bacteria are living microorganisms that when taken in by the body, it will benefit instead of getting sick from that good bacteria. Good bacteria or friendly bacteria are often beneficial to humans because they maintain the normal flora of the intestines. But not all good bacteria reside in our gut. Learn more about the various types of good bacteria.
Good Bacteria as Probiotics
One of the most common good bacteria is Lactobacilus acidophilus. Aside from living in the intestines, this kind of good bacteria is present in the vagina to prevent disease-causing microorganisms from growing. This good bacteria produces ‘lactase’, an enzyme which breaks down lactose or ‘milk sugar’. If you hear of people who are lactose intolerant, these people lack this good bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus). And they will need supplements of these good bacteria so they can cope with lactose intolerance. Another help provided by good bacteria such as L. acidophilus is its being able to counteract the damage caused by antibiotic consumption. These good bacteria can also stimulate the immune system.
For a bacterium to be considered a good bacterium, it should meet the following requirements:
- A good bacterium must serve a beneficial function.
- A good bacterium must be easy to cultivate.
- A good bacterium must be non-pathogenic or not disease-causing.
- A good bacterium has a good and stable population and adhesion.
Probiotics or good bacteria are a good source of therapy because good bacteria don’t have much side effects compared to chemical treatments. Aside from L. acidophilus the other most important types of good bacteria to be taken as a form of therapy include B. bifidus, L.bulgaricus, S. thermophilus. To acquire these good bacteria, consuming fermented products such as the following is advised:
- Good bacteria can be increased with the help of eating miso, a product obtained by fermending soybeans, other grains, sea salt, and koji
- Good bacteria loves Sauerkraut and pickles
- Good bacteria get sustained by Kefir or yogurt
Other products that are said to indirectly help good bacteria to propagate include FOS or fructooligosaccharide, inulin, and microalgae.
Good Bacteria for Bioremediation
Bioremediation is utilizing nature’s own good bacteria to get rid of pollutants and other damages. A wide variety of good bacteria are now being used to restore nature’s beauty and bounty. One of the recent discoveries is BAV-1, a good bacteriumthat was learned to be of good help in cleaning toxic sites and in preventing cancer-causing materials from getting into water supplies.
A group of scientists led by Loeffler, stimulated the growth of this good bacterium to a site that was contaminated with trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene and monitored the results. This good bacterium consumed the toxins like a food source. And this good bacterium produced only non-toxic byproducts after the bioremediation.
Other good bacteria reported to help in bioremediating the environment is that good bacterium which was known to clean up diesel oil contaminated areas. This good bacterium is Acinetobacter sp. This good bacterium degraded the hydrocarbons of the diesel fuel. Acinetobacter produced a biosurfactant-like whitish substance that might be of big help in the bioremediation process.
Other benefits of good bacteria include manufacturing B-vitamins (B3, B6, niacin and folic acid among others.); good bacteria are also good in controlling high levels of cholesterol, which consequentially protect humans from cardiovascular diseases; occasional anxiety relief is also offered by good bacteria; good bacteria also protect against negative effects of radiation and pollutants, which in turn strengthen the immune system; good bacteria aid in proper bowel movement lessening the time for ingested food to pass; good bacteria assist in maintaining hormonal balance in women.
Other bacteria are even known to cause positive effects such as having a fresh-smelling breath. This is according to one study that dug on what causes bad breath.
Now you know that good bacteria do exist and they will always be ready to be of service to all of us humans who need them. One can always view these good baterium under a microscope with the needed level of magnification.