A proliferation of unhealthy bacteria can damage your intestinal lining and lead to the production of cancer-causing compounds and intestinal symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. A damaged intestinal lining allows infectious agents, toxic compounds, and macromolecules to pass through to the bloodstream. Symptoms of this increased intestinal permeability, or "leaky gut syndrome," can include fatigue, diarrhea, and skin rashes. Ultimately, it can lead to many digestive disorders as well as seemingly unrelated illness, including chronic fatigue syndrome, eczema, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.

Conversely, the healthy, or "friendly," microflora provide protection against these harmful bacteria by strengthening the intestinal lining, competing with harmful bacteria for attachment to epithelial cells, producing antimicrobial compounds, and enhancing the intestinal immune system. Thus, maintaining a well-balanced intestinal microflora is important for reducing the risk of infections and supporting overall health. This may be accomplished through the therapeutic use of beneficial microorganisms, or probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. So what do you think, do you have the guts to be healthy.

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