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Inu-Flora Prebiotic Powder, 30 Packets Quantity in Basket: None Code: INUF5-30P Price: $19.95 Shipping Weight: 0.75 pounds   Quantity:   Inuflora is an all natural prebiotic to support optimal colon functioning and mineral absorption. Inuflora is a highly purified form of inulin exctracted from the organically grown Jerusalem artichoke plant. Inulin is the energy and food source for good bacteria. The more good bacteria in your system, the more efficiently the body can absorb minerals and nutrients from food. Because Inuflora does not affect blood sugar levels it is especially beneficial to diabetics plus it is an excellent source of dietary fiber. DOSAGE: 1 Packet daily (1 packet = 5 grams)

BACKGROUND

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

It is not an old housewive's tale exactly: Health actually does begin in the gut! Despite the emphasis on nutritious foods, physical exercise, and increasing consciousness about healthy lifestyle habits, larger numbers of people are complaining about gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. In fact, if the numbers are to be believed, one in three Americans suffers from one type of gastrointestinal discomfort or another. The symptoms may be transient and people may not seek clinical attention, but the importance of gastrointestinal health can hardly be overemphasized.

It has been said that refined foods have contributed to this increase in GI tract disorder. At times, these disorders may be nondescript, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and may not have any organic basis. That is, such disorders are functional and may not have any organic basis. That is, such disorders are functional and may not have any structural abnormality associated with them. Likewise, GI tract problems may be a result of the intake of medications, such as antibiotics. Antibiotics, despite their considerable benefits, are by far the most deleterious agents that wreak havoc on the GI tract. This happens as antibiotics decimate not only the harmful infectious bacteria, but also the beneficial ones native to the colon. Thus, it is not atypical that as an antibiotic course runs, it makes the patient susceptible to antibiotic-induced diarrhea. This is especially the case with children. Since antibiotic-induced diarrhea resolves of its own accord, an occasional antibiotic course leaves children unscathed. Disturbances in the floral balance among adults, however, particularly the elderly, can take a stiff toll. Repeated exposure to antibiotics may result in a perturbed balance between the beneficial and deleterious bacteria in the intestine. This is usually referred to as dysbiosis.

Intestinal dysbiosis, in turn, may be the root cause of an array of GI tract health problems. For instance, depletion of Bifidobacteriae may reduce the presence of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), a metabolite of bacterial fermentation, which is absolutely essential in the proper functioning of colon and helps boost the immune system. Replenishment of butyrate is best achieved by stimulating the fermentation of in the colon of Bifidobacteriae. Presently, the most popular approach to replenish the beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacteriae spp., is by the oral intake of the so-called probiotics that are a collection of bacterial cultures. More important, however, are the findings that soluble dietary fiber can simulate the production of butyrate, since it is a natural substrate for beneficial bacteria in the colon. Accordingly, soluble fiber provides a more meaningful modality to maintain floral balance in the intestine. Among the most soluble dietary fibers, inulin is an effective substrate for beneficial bacteria indigenous to the colon. As such, inulin is a prototypical prebiotic. That is, it is a natural food and energy source for bacterial fermentation in the gut.

WHAT IS A PREBIOTIC?
The Prebiotic inulin is a complex carbohydrate with planar chains composed of the monomer fructose, a simple sugar (Fig. 1). The chain length of inulin is extremely critical in its effectiveness as a prebiotic. This rests on the notion that it is not sufficient to merely jumpstart bacterial fermentation; rather, the objective is to derive maximal health benefits. It is indispensable to sustain it for extended periods of time in order for the fermentation metabolites to be fully resorbed. That is precisely the difference between the prebiotic inulin and fructooligossaccharides (FOSs). While FOSs are comprised of fructose monomers as well, albeit with chain length not exceeding nine units, the chain length in inulin is much longer. Accordingly, where as all FOSs are inulins, not all inulins are FOSs (1). Thus, in order for it to function as a prebiotic, inulin must be comprised of chains long enough to both initiate bacterial proliferation and sustain it for extended periods of time (2).

Inulin is isolated from the root of Jerusalem artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke is the ur-potato that, historically, is indigenous to North America, and was the food staple for American Indians for centuries. European settlers took it back to Europe where it has become a standard in many a European diet. It is for good reason, then, that it is in Germany that inulin is isolated by a specific process that maximizes the output of intermediate- and long-chain inulins. This is the single most important distinction between the inulin derived from Jerusalem artichoke and that isolated from other sources. Why is this distinction important? It is important to sustain the growth of intestinal flora for prolonged periods of time in order to draw maximal health benefits from a prebiotic (2). The longer a prebiotic stimulates the bacterial multiplication, the more beneficial metabolites are produced and their resorption prolonged (Fig. 2).

HOW DOES THE PREBIOTIC INUFLRA WORK?
Naturally Vitamins' Inuflora, comprised of inulin, is the prebiotic of choice to restore intestinal dysbiosis to normalcy. Being a water-soluble "fiber" that is not metabolized in the upper intestine, the vast bulk of inulin is transported to the colon where it serves as a natural substrate of the beneficial bacteria indigenous to it (Fig. 2). Since these bacteria, such as Bifidobacteriae spp., are lodged in their native milieu, they grow profusely and burrow in the intestinal wall to weed out the deleterious flora. As the intestinal fermentation proceeds, their robust proliferation helps rid the intestine of any putrefaction and facilitate peristaltic function in the colon. In addition, continued growth of the beneficial bacteria dislodges the harmful bacteria that might have colonized the intestine. Once removed from their perches, they are starved of nutrients and a favorable ambience to multiply and are, thus, flushed out of the system. More importantly, long-term fermentation growth in the colon releases an array of metabolites, such as SCFAs like butyrate and, among others, interferon-a to boost the immune function (4). As these metabolites are resorbed, they also simultaneously stimulate efficient absorption of nutrients and minerals from the foodstuffs.

Inulin is isolated with naturally complexed minerals, such as potassium phosphorus, and magnesium which, in turn, enhance the absorption of orally administered minerals and other nutrients. Thus, calcium taken in conjunction with inulin is far better absorbed than calcium alone (5). As such, inulin functions as an efficient prebiotic, and is far superior to other modalities of promoting gastrointestinal health.

The GI tract is an open system. That is, it is susceptible to the environmental assaults as much as to metabolic attrition in the body. Such exposure makes the GI system especially vulnerable, and may well be the root cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Given that IBS is a functional disorder and not a disease, in its many manifestations, it is reflective of intestinal dysbiosis. Restoration of intestinal flora to a reasonable level of normalcy, then, should mitigate the severity of IBS. Inulin as a prebiotic restores the floral balance in the colon. As such, inulin is viable modality to nutritionally manages IBS (6).

FUNCTIONS AND BENEFITS:
Inulin is an efficacious prebiotic that stimulates the growth of intestinal flora specifically. Thus, inulin:

" Stimulates the Multiplication of Beneficial Bacteria

" Being a natural substrate for beneficial bacteria, it deters the growth of deleterious bacteria

" Helps restore floral balance in the colon

In Europe, inulin is used as a nutritional adjunct to a wide variety of foods, including yogurts, breads, cereals, and a host of other edibles to promote GI health. It is reported to alleviate the discomfort associated with digestive problems, including indigestion, acid reflux, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea.

Scientific and clinical studies have shown rather convincingly that inulin:

" Restores intestinal balance and, as a result, promotes regularity

" Induces the production of SCFAs and, as such, helps maintain hormonal balance and supports endocrine function

" Promotes the synthesis of cytokines to naturally boost the immune system

" Enhances cellular function helping eliminate waste products

" Enhances nutrient uptake from dietary sources by prolonged fermentation of the colonic flora

" Does not change the glycemic index and, hence, is suitable for diabetics and children

" Is an indispensable supplement to today's nutrient-deprived fast foods

" Has a natural, pleasant taste

SUMMARY:
Numerous factors play critical roles in GI health, including the foods you eat, the lifestyle habits with which you have grown comfortable, or even the level of stress to which you are exposed. While some of these factors may not be amenable to change, it does matter what choices you make to ensure that your body, and especially your GI system, gets the proper support it needs to remain robust and healthy. Nutritious diet, regular exercise, and sensible lifestyle habits, along with sustained intake of the prebiotic inulin, will ensure that your GI system functions properly.

SELECTED REFERENCES:
1) Ahmed, A. J., "Prebiotics," TotalHealth: 21, 52-53, 1999.

2) Gibson, G., Beatty, E., Wang, X. and Cummings, J., "Selective Stimulation of Bifidobacteriae in the Human Colon by Oligofructose and Inulin," Gastroenterol.: 95, 975-982, 1995.

3) Thompson, W. G., Gut Reactions, Plenum Press, New York, New York, 1990.

4) Macfarlane, G. and Gibson, G., "Metabolic Interactions between Colonic Bacteria and the "Host," In Human Health: The Contributions of Microorganisms, [Gibson, S., Ed.], Springer Verlag, London, U.K., 1994.

5) a) Horwitz, B. and Fisher, R., "The Irritable Bowel Syndrome," N. Engl. J. Med.: 344, 1846-1850, 2001.
b) Ahmed, A. J., "IBS: The Unsettled Gut," in press, Nat. Phar., 2001.

6) Anonymous, "Low-Calorie Fat Substitute Boosts Calcium Absorption," www.bcm.tmc.edu/cnrc/lowcalorie.htm.

Healing Irritable Bowel Syndrome Naturally

IF YOU'RE USING TAGAMET, PEPCID OR OTHER PRESCRIPTION
or over-the-counter drugs for indigestion and would prefer to try a natural yet proven alternative remedy, you should know about Inuflora®, one of the most popular natural remedies in Europe and now available in the United States.

Irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion (also known as dyspepsia) and related conditions may be the most prevalent complaints people have today, outside of the common cold. In fact, estimates are that about 30 percent of people today suffer from some form of chronic indigestion. This condition can be brought on or exacerbated by use of medical drugs. Inuflora®, Europe's leading prebiotic, can help. Indeed, because Inuflora® is derived from the Jerusalem artichoke, its highly effective IBS-relieving properties have often been called the Jerusalem blessing.

Are you a Candidate for Inuflora®?
Do you use prescription drugs and suffer frequently from indigestion?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Do you commonly feel nauseated or bloated after eating?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Do you have a tendency to belch or suffer from flatulence after a big meal or meal rich in saturated fats?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Do you feel excessively tired after meals?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Do you ever feel pain or pressure in your upper and lower abdomen?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Do you suffer from irregularity?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

Are you seeking a safe alternative to prescription and over-the-counter antacid drugs?
Yes ? -OR- No ?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions,
you might be a candidate for nature's prebiotic, Inuflora®.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is an intestinal condition characterized by a combination of abdominal pain; constipation; diarrhea; increased secretion of colon-related mucus; and dyspeptic symptoms such as flatulence, nausea, anorexia, and sometimes even varying degrees of anxiety or depression.

Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common gastrointestinal condition treated by physicians in general practice and represents up to 50 percent of all referrals to gastroenterologists. It is estimated that approximately 15 to 30 percent of the population have complaints of symptoms related in irritable bowel syndrome.

How Can Inuflora® Help IBS Suffers?

Inuflora® is like the sheriff who comes to the Wild West town and brings back order to a chaotic situation. It helps to normalize bacterial balances by providing the good guys with much needed "ammunition."

Inuflora®, a proprietary soluble fiber extract taken from the Jerusalem artichoke plant, is a prebiotic whose function is to selectively feed the beneficial bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, helping the body's own resident friendly bacterial population to re-establish their rightful territory in the gastrointestinal terrain of the body.

The dual properties of Inuflora® as a fiber and prebiotic make it the superior alternative to medical drugs for persons with irritable bowel syndrome. Increasing the body's overall levels of beneficial, life-essential bacteria such as lactobacillus has been shown to be useful in treating irritable bowel syndrome, according to a report in The Lancet. What's more, because Inuflora® is a fiber derived from Jerusalem artichoke plant, it is strongly therapeutic for irritable bowel syndrome.

Inuflora® has been shown to perform the following functions:

" Stimulates growth of acidophilus, bifidus and faecium.
" Normalizes fecal pH.
" Enhances elimination of toxic metabolites.
" Reduces serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
" Reduces blood pressure.
" Reduces carbohydrate absorption, normalizing blood glucose.
" Offers an alternative sweetener for diabetics and dieters.

Rethinking IBS

The idea that unbalanced bacterial populations can play a role in causing IBS in a new idea but one that seems solid. "This is really exciting because it points to the cause of the disease," says Mark Pimentel, M.D., assistant director of the gastrointestinal motility program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Beverly Hills, California and co-author of a recent study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology that that linked pathogenic bacterial strains to IBS. "Treatments for irritable bowel syndrome to this point have been directed at symptoms, not any cause." Many other studies now support the bacterial-IBS link.

Doctors Laud Inuflora® for IBS

Dr. Michael Loes, M.D., M.D. (H.), of the University of Arizona, has frequently utilized Inuflora® in his practice for irritable bowel syndrome patients.

"Let me give you an example from my own case files of how Inuflora® can help," he says. "Dee was 49 and diagnosed with fibromyalgia with a concomitant diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, from which she had suffered for years. Within one week of beginning to use Inuflora®, she felt less spasms, bloating, and gas. She can talk without gurgling. Food is tasting better because there seems to be less acid in her stomach."

"Dee jokes that she has received the Jerusalem Blessing." She is now more open to changing other aspects of her diet and lifestyle that previously she didn't wan to address-for example, consuming fewer diet soft drinks, coffee and stopping the smoking habit. There has been a change in Dee. Her healing response has been sparked.

"Brenda suffered from fibromyalgia, a condition with chronic muscle pain," Dr. Loes continues. "Like many fibromyalgia suffers, Brenda also was suffering irritable bowel syndrome. The symptoms were always bothersome and beginning to wear her down. Her bowel patterns were so irregular and unpredictable that she was afraid to even go out. She avoided milk and dairy products, fearing they would worsen her condition. She also avoided high fat foods and sugar and was afraid of spices. But her greatest fear was having to take antibiotics. She could not tolerate them.

Fortunately, when I started Brenda on Inuflora®, her tolerance was excellent. It took a little while for the Inuflora® to take effect, but she began feeling different within about two weeks. What she noticed was a gradual change in her self-confidence. She began going out to eat again.

"interestingly, inulin improved Brenda's mood, too. She began to wake with more energy. I believe that a pathway was opened that enhanced Brenda's body's own healing response. Perhaps too, by improving her digestion, her levels of serotonin, a feel-good hormone that is intimately associated with digestive processes, increased. This is a promising area of research with Inuflora® that I certainly want to see more research on."

Doctor Heals Own Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Chiropractor Wayne Kerch who practices in Phoenix, Arizona, suffered from periodic bouts of irritable bowel syndrome for 25 years before he finally was able to heal himself with Inuflora®.

Like so many chronic disease suffers, Dr. Kerch went through an extensive period of trial and error, trying digestive enzymes and even taking part in a research project about 10 years ago with a product containing bee pollen and hydrochloric acid. The researches promised "guaranteed results." Yet, his condition became markedly worse. "I should have known there could be no guarantee. The only lasting effect was the product made my IBS even worse, and I developed an allergy to honey and can't go near it any more."

Dr. Kerch even had a sigmoidoscopy to check for colon cancer. Fortunately, the findings indicated no malignant problems. But, unfortunately, another 10 years would pass before serendipity occurred. Dr. Kerch was visiting with his friend Joachim Lehmann, president of Naturally Vitamins, and mentioned his long-standing bout with IBS. Lehmann responded by telling him about Inuflora®, a proprietary extract taken from the European Jerusalem artichoke. "I have absolute confidence in Lehmann," notes Dr. Kerch. "When he tells you something, you can go to the bank with it. It's as good as gold."

In his case, Lehmann enthused over Inuflora®, a proprietary prebiotic developed in Germany and explained to Dr. Kerch how in Europe it is highly regarded because it selectively feeds the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dr. Kerch started taking Inuflora® one-year ago, taking one tablet with breakfast and snacking on two delicious peppermint-chocolate Inu-Lean® chewables before leaving work in the evening. (Inu-Lean® chewables contain more than a half gram of Inuflora® per tablet.)

"I noticed a difference within two to three days," he recalls. "As soon as I realized the improvement was real, I quit taking digestive enzymes and began using Inuflora® and Inuflora® [the peppermint-chocolate chewable form of Inuflora®] only. By the way, Inu-Lean® chewables taste great.

Inuflora® is the finest thing I've ever seen, at least for me. Inuflora® changed my life and offered me an enormous change in the quality of my life."

Today, Dr. Kerch is so confident that Inuflora® can help other persons with similar IBS problems that he recommends the prebiotic to his own patients who suffer from IBS. In fact, human studies shows that Inuflora® results in a marked eightfold increase in friendly bacteria and a significant reduction in harmful bacterial strains.

Theresa Jones* has been Dr. Kerch's patient for about twelve years. Now 53 years old, she has been suffering from IBS for 33 years. "I've had IBS for most of my adult life," says Theresa. "I felt like I had to live with it. If I had lunch, within twenty to thirty minutes, I had to find a bathroom. I would have severe cramping and diarrhea. Nothing helped my symptoms. I started using an over the counter anti-diarrhea medicine. It helped me for a while, but then it stopped working.

"I found out about Inuflora® from Dr. Kerch," Theresa continues. "He has a patient who owns a health food store. To Dr. Kerch, it seemed like I was one of the most chronic IBS suffers he has ever had. My symptoms were very severe. I first tried Inuflora® in February. Within three days, I had no diarrhea. I had regular bowel movements: it mad a big difference. I take one tablet at night and one in the morning. I've also used Inuflora® with antibiotics and had no problems with gastrointestinal side effects at all."

Although her chiropractor persuaded her to try Inuflora® for her condition, Theresa was originally skeptical about trying a natural supplement. "My goodness, yes I was skeptical," she remembers. "You are always hearing that this works or that works, and then it doesn't, but in this case, I'm convinced that Inuflora® has helped me. If I take it regularly, then I'm fine. But if I stop taking it, then I have problems."

When asked about how much Inuflora® has changed her health, she is quick to point out the benefits. "I have more energy. You see, having diarrhea all the time depletes your body of essential minerals such as potassium, leaving you feeling drained and tired. Now, I don't feel bloated or suffer from any abdominal cramping. I can eat and I don't have to work about finding a bathroom. It was terrible before. If I had plans to go somewhere, for example, to see a play, I would not eat before the performance, in order to avoid potentially embarrassing exits during the show. Now, I don't have to worry. That's how much my health and social life have changed.

Theresa has not experienced any side effects since she started taking Inuflora®. She likes the fact that it is very easy to take. "I highly recommend it to anybody. I am totally convinced of the effectiveness of Inuflora®. I will be taking it for the rest of my life. If I don't take it, all of my symptoms return. I know this is what's helping me. I am very, very happy that Dr. Kerch introduced it to me. If he hadn't I would never have known about it. It's great to have a doctor that is prepared to try natural supplements, and not just prescription medications, for his own condition, and then, if they work, recommend these to his patients. Chiropractors seem to be more open-minded when it come to trying high-quality natural products."

Because Inuflora® is a new natural remedy,
it is important to explain how it can best be used.

Inuflora® comes in different forms: tablet, powder and chewable. Drs. Loes and Kerch often recommend tablets with good success. "But since the recommended dosage is between five and twenty grams daily, many persons may prefer to ingest a larger amount, which can be easily done with the powder," notes Dr. Loes. "The powder mixes quite well with yogurt or fruit juice and has a pleasant taste, so that five to ten grams can be ingested in one serving."
Dr. Loes also advised use of Inuflora® for children. Since young children may suffer from colic or digestive complaints, the powder can even be mixed with ice cream or their favorite soup.

"However, the peppermint-chocolate chewable (known as Inu-Lean®) which has added peppermint oil could be even better for alleviating colic and other digestive complaints in both children and adults," he adds.

In the Pimentel study, researchers utilized antibiotics as the main treatment method, but we are concerned that treatment with antibiotics could reduce populations of both friendly and unfriendly bacterial strains. Therefore, unless the patient's condition is life threatening or in other ways demanding of acute, emergency help, we recommend that our readers first use both Inuflora®, although Dr. Pimentel himself has not used Inuflora®.

References

1 Lancet General Advertiser, September 21, 1957.
2 Manning, A.P., et al. "Wheat fibre and irritable bowel syndrome: A controlled trial" Lancet, 1977;2: 417.
3 Fielding, J., et al. "Different dietary fibre formulations and the irritable bowel syndrome." Irish J. Med. Sci., 1984: 153: 178-180.
4 M. Pimentel, et al. "Eradication of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Reduces Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome." Am J Gastroenterol, 2000;95(12):3503.
5 Noback, S., et al. "Alteration of intestinal microflora is associated with reduction in abdominal bloating and pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome." Am J. Gastroenterol,
2000;95(5):1231-1238.
6 King, T.S., et al. "Abnormal colonic fermentation in irritable bowel syndrome." Lancet, 1998;352(9135):1187-1189.
7 De Schryver, A .M. & Sampson, M., et al. "New developments in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome." Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 2000;(232):38-42.
8 Abrams, S. A. & Griffin, I.J. "Calcium absorption is increased in adolescent girls receiving enriched inulin." World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology &
Nutrition. Abstract, August 5-9, 2000, Boston, Massachusetts.
9 van den Heuvel, E., et al. "Oligofructose stimulates calcium absorption in adolescents" American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1999,69(3):544-548.
10 Coudray, C., et al. "Effect of soluble or party soluble dietary fibres supplementation on absorption and balance of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in healthy young men." Eur J
Clin Nutr, 1997;51(6):375-80.
11 Ohta. A., et al. "Dietary fructooligosaccharides prevent osteopenia after gastrectomy in rats." J Nutr, 1998; 128(1):106-10.
12 Morohashi, T., et al. "True calcium absorption in the intestine is enhanced by fructooligosaccharide feeding in rats." J Nutr, 1998;128(10):1815-1818.
13 Shahani, K. M. & Ayebo, A. D. "Role of dietary lactobacilli in gastrointestinal microecology." Proc V1 International Symposium Intestinal Microecology. Am J Clin Nutr,
1980;33:2448-2457.
14. Rao, D. & Shahani, K. M. "Vitamin content of culture dairy products." Cultured Dairy Prod, 1987;22(1):6-10.