© By Lena Sanchez

Bet you didn't know you had a whole ecosystem living within you, did you?

You always read about the environmental ecosystem that is in danger from all the pollutants in this world but not about the ecosystem within your body!

You may not know that YOU ARE AN ECOSYSTEM and your ecosystem is in as much danger as our world ecosystem, from all the medications, pesticides, and environmental pollution ingested, slathered on and inhaled. Your body houses this unique balanced ecosystem beginning with the stomach then the miles of large and small intestine in charge of distributing the nutrients to nourish your organs.  Residing in that ecosystem is more than 400 species of bacteria. Bacterium isn't always bad! These bacterial colonies function in harmony with one another and if either is out of balance your system is going to go awry at some point in time.

That ecosystem is made up of three main types of friendly bacterium: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifido-bacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Acidophilus works in the small intestine. Bifidus predominates in the large intestine and bulgaricus is a transient bacterium that passes through the entire intestinal tract. These bacteria exist outside the body as well but not in the ordinary places you would expect These bacterium are vital to your health and if you have put into your ecosystem an antibiotic, anti-inflammatories (advil, aspirin, motrin, aleve, etc.) or  chlorinated products ingested or bathed in, you have killed both friendly and unfriendly bacteria as well as causing mutated bacteria that can harm…You have set up an unbalanced ecosystem.

One of many problems caused from taking antibiotics is a yeast infection. No fun, and can be dangerous to your health if left to run amok in the body. Another problem brought about from taking antibiotics is chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation either is the very sign that your immune system is deplete or very near deplete and must have the stomach and intestines full of the Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes to work properly. 

 In addition to antibiotics you are being bombarded with food additives, chlorinated water and medications that can upset the balance of that ecosystem flora. Hormonal drugs, such as birth control pills and cortisone are especially detrimental to the body's ecosystem. Your body's immune system is so strong and fights so hard to stay healthy that you may not notice the imbalance for years but it will catch up to you eventually… 

One way of balancing out the body's ecosystem is with Probiotics, which improves liver and circulatory functions, improve resistance to allergies and decrease the presence of yeast infections. Probiotics are those foods and supplement that enhance and restore the helpful bacteria. Small amounts are found in foods like yogurt and fermented Dairy products and Acidophilus Milk. Not sufficient amounts to actually balance the system but will help.

If you have encountered any of the aforementioned, antibiotics, chlorinated water (chlorine by products exist in over-the-counter bottled water as well), toxic environment in either the home or air, hormones, birth control pills, cortisone or anti-inflammatories you need to get your ecosystem back into balance now before other systems start to break down.

 You say, "but I'm not ill." No, you may not feel as if you are now but if you frequently catch colds, have fever blisters, vaginal or rectal itching, diarrhea either chronic or intermittent, constipation either chronic or intermittent, dry skin, allergies or a host of other small annoying symptoms you could very well be on your way to becoming more seriously ill! 

To balance your systems talk to your local health food store nutritionists to get the proper probiotics for you. Or do like I do and take ProBiotics from Wayne Garlands' arsenal of nutrients and supplements.  

 My wish is for you to have a long life and part of that requires a Healthy ecosystem! 

***Lena Sanchez a Retired Medical Office Nurse/Administrator Medical Office and Health Consultant’s latest book “Handbook Of Herbs To Health & Other Secrets” at http://www.antibiotic-alternatives.com  Answers health questions in her "Ask Lena Health Questions and Answers" weekly newsletter. To subscribe Click Here