VITAMIN
B-12 PRODUCTION and FRIENDLY BACTERIA
We are essentially composed of 10 trillion protein cells - -
holding mostly water that is saturated with
100 trillion friendly bacteria that live and work synergistically with
us.
This friendly flora (bacteria) lines our gastrointestinal
tract, mucous membranes, and skin in such colonial great numbers as to impede
the adherence and entrance of dangerous enemy bacteria (pathogens). We feed it
with our mucosa and by consuming essential root vegetables and it excretes
essential vitamins for our use, especially Vitamin B-12. There exist over 400 varieties of micro-flora
in our bodies each performing different functions for our well-being. One
example would be the flora oxalobacter formigenes which breaks down
oxalates in foods like spinach. Without
the presence of these bacterium, a person would be subject to kidney stone
formation.
Having compromised intestinal flora contributes to inflammatory
bowel diseases, such as Colitis, Crohn’s disease, and Irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS). Healthy intestinal flora can prevent bowel cancer. Another
study showed that increased milk-fat in the diet contributed to breast cancer,
however, with the substitution of yogurt, with its friendly flora there was a
decreased risk of breast cancer.
High levels of intestinal flora can counter the ammonia that
is released in the intestines from the breakdown of proteins, especially from
red meats. High levels of micro-flora
are essential in the transportation or assimilation of nutrients through the
intestines and the blocking of toxins. Although cholesterol is a nutrient
manufactured in the liver (essential for hormone production), the intestinal
flora can block and break down oxidized cholesterol which occurs in the
processing of animal products. Does good bacterium also protect the vessels
and heart?
Scientists tracking Indian migration to England noted a
Vitamin B-12 deficiency in migrants who ate the same as residents in India,
with normal B-12 levels. They noted that the bacteria genera Klebsiella and
Pseudomonas produced some B-12 in the residents and further noted a lack of
intestinal flora in migrants and all western inhabitants. The same results were
noted in Iranian villagers, who ate dairy once a week and ate meat once a month
yet had adequate B-12 levels. This research is invaluable in answering the
question “If Vitamin B-12 is so important to our health and mental
well-being, why isn’t it widely available in our food supply?” The answer is
because it is manufactured by our intestinal flora.
These scientists’ conclusions didn’t
address how antibiotics can destroy our intestinal flora, thus sabotaging our
manufacturing of B-12. Instead, they
attributed the difference in B-12 levels, between the migrants from India and
the residents still in India, to the consumption of fecal matter in the food.
We can conclude from science that if we destroy our
friendly flora, we become deficient in nutrients and more subject to disease.
The same goes for animals that are given antibiotics, they also cannot create
Vitamin B-12. There is an epidemic
of B-12 deficiency in vegans and carnivores alike. If we rely on our 100
trillion bacterial friends, use garlic and herbal antibiotics for infections,
and reserve pharmaceutical antibiotics for life-threatening situations our
bodies should be able to have the energy vitamins that we need from our
food.
