8 Steps to Intestinal Health
Improving the bacterial flora of your GI tract will turn out to be one of the best forms of health prevention you can take. And, as a bonus, it's simple and inexpensive. Here are some easy steps you can take to correct and maintain the bacterial balance in your intestines:
 

1. Minimize your use of antibiotics.  There are several natural products that have antibiotic properties which don't disrupt the friendly bacterial flora in the body. Some of these items include vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, honey, and aloe vera. Make it a point to keep these on hand and use them at the first sign of infection. The more time you give the infection to take root, the harder it's going to be to heal.
2. I reckon that we'll see more and more research on the benefits of probiotic products and natural alternatives to antibiotics, and you'll be way ahead of the game by minimizing your use of antibiotics now. Antibiotic-resistant microbes are now appearing far more quickly than new products to counteract them can be developed.
3. If, despite the clear health risks, you still decide to take antibiotics, then it is imperative that you also take supplemental probiotics along with probiotic-rich foods. This also goes for anyone with a serious illness, long-standing infection, or bowel problems. You should use supplemental probiotics at least until you correct any bacterial imbalance.
4. Reduce the use of all drugs whenever possible. This applies to over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription medications. I'm not for a minute suggesting that you drop your blood pressure or diabetes medication. Never change or eliminate any medications without the help and guidance of your doctor. However, it is well within your control to refrain from running to the local pharmacy or your medicine cabinet for every little problem that you experience. For almost every problem imaginable, there are viable natural alternatives that can work without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
5. Decrease your intake of sulfur-based preservatives. Check labels for sulfur dioxide, sulfites, bisulfites, metabisulfites or sulfates. If you see any of these included, buy another brand!
6. Eat a generous helping of oatmeal at least once a week. Beneficial bacteria must be able to latch on if they are going to flourish and colonize in the GI tract. Fortunately, oat bran can help. Oats have some very unique properties. Oat fibre is a rich source of water-soluble beta-glucans, which have been associated with the ability to enhance the function of the immune system. The gum in the oats promotes the production of a protective intestinal lubricant, and now appears to improve the adhesive capabilities and the growth rates of beneficial bacteria strains. Instant oatmeal packets are light on the oat bran and heavy on the sugar - stick to plain old-fashioned, slow-cooking oats, which taste just fine on their own - organic if possible.
7. Include a minimum of one liberal serving of sauerkraut in your diet each week. Several servings a week would be even better (provided they aren't on top of hot dogs). As we have become more technologically advanced in food preparation, we have greatly reduced our intake of fermented foods. As a result, we have lost one of the most potent tools ever in our fight against pathogenic bacteria and other microbes.
8. Consider adding a probiotic to your daily supplement program. Between 400 and 500 different species of bacteria reside in your GI tract. Estimates are that these bacterial flora account for as much as three pounds of your body weight. Very few physicians understand the true importance of these bacteria, primarily because they are not a topic of study in medical school. We now know that problems arise when the bad bacteria are present without the good bacteria to control them. In other words, it's an imbalance of bacteria in the GI tract that causes problems. Look for a probiotic that delivers at least 1 billion mixed, beneficial bacteria - more if you can.