Introduction:
The gut is a complex ecosystem with hundreds of different spicies that together, play an important role in the well being of the host. Bifidobacteria are a group of bacteria that is normally found in the human intestine. Bifido bacteria are the lactic-acid bacteria superstars. Although you need more thatn one type of probiptic microbe in your intestine to be healthy, Bifidobacteria play a critical role in your health. These micro-organisims are so benifitial that they are grown outside the body and tacken as medicine.
Main features of Bifidobacteria:
Bifidobacteria are normally found in the gastro-intestinal tract of humans and other animals.Although there are a number of different species, there are some difficulties in differentiating them. Bifidobacteria species belong to the Actinomyces subgroup of the gram positive Eubacteria. These bacteria strain gram-positive, amd have a rod-like shape. However, these rods are often “clubbed” , wildstrains, bacteria that are naturally found in the intestine and not grown, particularly, have irregular rods with branches, and are ‘Y’ shaped. Because of their microscopic appearance, bifidobacteria are described as being pleomorphic, witch means the bacteria has the ability to change their shapeand size due to evviromental conditions. While the bacteria do have a specific appearance, cares do need to be taken not to be confused between Actinomyes spp, as they have a very similar structure . The optimum growth tempreture for bifidobacteria is around 37°C to 41°C. Bifidobacteria produce lactic and acetic acid.
Uses of Bifidobacteria:
Bifidobacreia are used to treat many conditions used to treat the intestines, including preventing diarrhea in babys and children, as wel as travelers diarrhea in adults. Some people ude bifidobacteria to replenish “good bacteria” in the gutt that have been killed by diarrhea, radiation, chemothearapy or antibiotics. Bifidobacteria are also used to treat ulcerative colitis, witch is a bowel disease wich causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. As well as Pouchitis, wich is a condition witch sometimes develops after surgery to treat alcerative colitis. Sometimes People use Bifidobacteria to prevent a bowel infection in babys called Necrotizing Enterocolitis, where parts of the babys intestine ungergo tissue death.
Other uses for Bifidobacteria include treating a skin condiion in babys called atopic ezzwma, yeast infections, colds, flues, redusing fluelike symptoms in children, breast pain whie breast feeding, hepatitis, lactose intolerance, mumps, lymph disease and recusing cholesterol.
How Bifidobacteria works:
Bifidobacteria belong to a group of bacteria called lactic acid bacteria. Bifidobacteia are used in treatment called probiotics, the opposite of antibiotics. They are known as frriendy bacteria and are taken as medicine to grow and multiply in areas of the body where they wouldnormally grow. The human body couts on the normal bacteria to do many jobs including beakiing down food, helping the body take inneutrients and preventing the take-over of bad bacteria. Bifidobacteria are used when a disease occurs due to a lack of normal bacteria. The treatment with antibiotics can destroy disease-causing bacteria but also normal and useful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. The theory is that taking bifidobacteria probiotics during antibiotic treatment can prevent the death of good bacteria.
Bifidobacteria has adhesion t the epithelial cells, or attatch to the epitherlial cells. Bifidobacteria shows aggersion towards other harmfull bacteria, witch means any harmfull bacteria in the intestines and urinal tract attatch to the bacteria, it then attacks the harmfull bacteria and gets rid of it. This is how bifidobacteria protects the body fromharmful bacteria.
Benefits and advantages of Bifidobacteria:
There are many, many advantages and benefits of Bifidobacteria. Taking Bifidobacteria as medicine, or even just the natural preasance of bifidobacteria provides the host with a variety of benefits.
Vitamin synthesis:
Bifidobacteia helps with the synthesis of B-complex vitamins and vitamine K in the intestines. This synthesis helps protect the body from ant vitamin deficiencies. Vitamins are essential in maintaining a persons health. Vitamin K is nessesary to revent blood clots and maitaine good bone health. B-complex Vitamins are also essential to good health as they help with energy, normal growth and development, maintain nervous system function and aid in the creation of real blood cells.
Improved immunity and digestion:
Bifidobacteria helps improve digestion and enhance the immune activity of the human body. The bacteria promotes bacterial balance and optimal digestion, wih prevents the production of histamine, with is a chemical wich triggers an allergic reaction. Bifidobacteria enhances the bodys natural antibody immune response, witch fights against intestinal pathogens, digestive irregularities and histamine production, improving the bodys imunity and avoiding allergic reactions.
Alcahol liver restoration:
Liver disease caused by an over consumption of alcohol os a majo cause of death in South Africa. An over consumption of alcohol results in gut permeability, bowl and liver interactions changed intestinal flora, and significantly reduced bifidobacteria. A study showed that When bifidobacteria was tacken, bowl flora was restored and alcohol liver injery was improved.
Cancer prevention
Bifidobacteria influences the creation of cancer cells into active carcinogens. Harmfull bacteriain the colon promotes tumor growth, but bifidobacteria get rid of these harmful bacteria and prevents the growth of cancerous tumors.
Diabities:
Bifidobacteria increases blood glucose, witch helps manage diabeties.
Improves oral health:
Bifidobacteria decreases cavit causing bacteria in the mouth, and fights dental curies, wich improves dental health.
Disadvantages of Bididobacteria:
Bifidobacteria are likely safe for adults and children, howeer, in some people, treatment might upset the stomach and intestine, causing bloating and gass.
There are some concerns that bifidobacteria might grow too well in people with a waek immune system and cause infections. Although this has not occurred seciffically withbifidobacteria ifidum, there have been rare cases involving othe bifidobacteria species, such as B.breve, B.infantis, nd B.longum. So people with weakened immune systems , ie: HIV/AIDS, shpuld be extremely carefull with this bacteria.
Ethical issues arisen around Bifidobacteria:
There is only one etical issues that has arisen around the use of bifidobacteria as a probiotic. Animals and humans have bacteria in the lining of their intestine. Tis bifidobacteria is grown outside the body to be taken as medicine. The only way to get the initial Bifidobacteria to grow is to extract it from an animal or human gut. This procedure is very uncomfortable for the person or animal being operated on, but on othe less painfull procedures to do this has been tried.
Conclusion:
Bifdobacteria as a probiotic ay become an important way of enhancing a persons health and preventing diseases. As researchers discover ways to successfully administer substrains of bifidobacteria, you can expect tat food and other companies will continue to find ne and creative ways to bring bifidobacteria into supermarckets and pharmecies to keep your gut healthy.