David Webster, the author of the book “Acidophilus and Colon Health” which saw the light in1999, says:

“Indicators of a healthy colon flora are a soft but well-formed stool, with amber color and little or no odor, and that floats in water most of the time. When the stools are dry, dark brown, too solidly formed or too loose, and especially if there is a putrid odor, these are clear indicators of a putrefactive, alkaline-producing colon flora. Chronic constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome are often eliminated when your colon is restored and maintained at a slightly acid pH.”

We, inside our colon have two types of bacteria’s: the good bacteria called as probiotics, and the bad bacteria also called unfriendly bacteria. The good bacteria help to maintain the health of the colon and inhibit the bad bacteria from multiplying and causing to different complications.

The currently adopted definition by FAO/WHO for the microorganisms in the colon also known as Probiotics: “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. They help to the host organism to stay healthy and prevent health complications.

Among probiotics the most common types of microbes are Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria. However, certain yeasts and bacilli may also be helpful.

Probiotics, that are commonly consumed as part of fermented foods such as yogurt, soy yogurt, or as dietary supplements, improve intestinal microbial balance; thus inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria.

The good bacteria acts inside the intestine like antibiotic and prevents from parasites, viruses and fungi spread and cause to diseases such as: dysentery, blood poisoning, meningitis, pneumonia, influenza and encephalitis.

How probiotics benefit our health is studied for years and therapies suggest a range of potentially beneficial medicinal uses for them. Recent research on Lactobacillus, suggests that it affects immune system and helpsprevent potential of cancer.

Today the modern lifestyle when so many of us eat preprocessed foods and drink non healthy drinks, polluted water and alcohol; we have to face the bad bacteria in the dominant condition in our colon.

Neglecting and abuse of colon health leads to developing serious illnesses throughout the world.

Latest studies suggest keeping probiotics in their optimal conditions, this means:

* Eating natural food, free of pollution, chemicals, additives and coloring.
* Drinking tap water instead of alcohol and sodas
* Eating diet rich in fiber
* Lowering anxiety in our lives
* Stopping using of harmful drugs and medications such as laxatives (eating more fruit and vegetables can benefit your health more than any of these).

Following these simple adjustments will create perfect conditions for good bacteria to multiply in the colon and become the dominant. It turns out that acidity of your intestines is the key factor to determining whether the good or the bad bacteria will be the dominant.

* pH of 5.9 – 6.9 – an acidic environment is good for the good bacteria
* pH of 7.1 – 7.9 – is good for the bad bacteria

So, to keep a healthy colon we have to keep acidity of our intestines in the optimal range of 5.9 — 6.9 and feed the bacteria with food they like most for multiplying.

Webster in his research have found that feeding the good bacteria with 2 – 5 tablespoons or more edible lactose for 30 days help rejuvenate it inside the colon and significantly improve the symptoms.

The best food we can supply to the good bacteria to live and thrive is — carbohydrates. Good bacteria colonies in the colon are fragile and easily disrupted by antibiotics, steroids, hydrotherapy and intense colon cleansing.

Also, keep in mind that too much sugar kills the good bacteria. Take probiotic supplements twice daily on an empty stomach. These often combine all strains of bacteria that replenish both small and large intestine flora. The strains of bacteria specifically for the large intestine and colon include B. bifidum, L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Saccharomyces boulardii. The more common and commercially available acidophilus strains are more beneficial to the small intestine.

Good digestion with little carbohydrates in the colon will cause to the consistent decrease in the population of the good bacteria and even turn the bad bacteria to become the dominant.