一般而言，腸道內的菌種大致可分為三大類，第一類為「益生菌」，提供對身體有益的服務，例如：促進正常代謝功能及免疫防禦能力、協助蠕動及排便、降低腸內毒素、平衡腸道酸鹼值、促進食物消化吸收、為大腸細胞提供營養、活化抑制腫瘤基因，以及製造維他命(B群、A、K等)。

第二類為「共棲菌」，一起生活但不提供特別服務，亦無害人體，但在「菌叢失衡」時會改變特性，甚至變成害菌。最壞的是第三類，稱為「寄生菌」或「病原菌」，它們會釋放毒素及有害代謝物，引起慢性發炎。某些帶有特殊基因型的人，當腸道寄居某種細菌時，會誘發僵直性關節炎。

事實上，長期的「菌叢失衡」會造成腸道慢性發炎，影響身體健康。此外，某些病原菌甚至會產生致癌物質，或引起神經及免疫系統問題。基本上，發生菌叢失衡的原因，與現今的生活方式有極大關係。長期處於壓力之下與飲食不當是兩個最重要的因素。失衡的狀態還會造成各種健康問題，影響多處器官及系統，包括消化、皮膚、關節、免疫、心臟血管及內分泌等等，當然也就是誘發許多慢性、退化性、衰老性疾病的開端、「病態老化」的來臨。因此我們要注意腸道菌叢的平衡，除了注意這方面的資訊及盡量過敏食物和壞菌外，也可考慮補充益菌、消化酵素，或改變飲食(減少醣類、高脂、增加纖維素)及加強肝臟解毒能力，以改善菌叢失衡的問題。

During the evolution of the human body, there are over 400 resident flora (normal flora) in our bowels. Since our birth, various microbes start to colonize our body. Bacteria that colonize our body earlier on would affect one’s future immunity. In fact, although we do not usually realize their presence, we live with these floras for our mutual benefits by providing the essential nutrients and vital functions for each other.

In general, bacteria in our bowels can be divided into three types. The first type is 'probiotics'. They provide beneficial service for our body, including: boost metabolism and improve immunity, assist peristalsis and defecation, lower toxin levels and balancing the pH value in bowels, facilitate digestion, provide nutrients for colon cells, activate tumor-suppressor genes, make vitamins (B complex, A, K..etc.).

The second type is 'symbiotic bacteria'. They live with us but do not provide any service, and are not harmful to human body. However, when flora imbalance occurs, they might change their character and become harmful bacteria.

The third, and the worst type, is 'parasitic bacteria' or 'pathogenic bacteria'. They would release toxins and harmful metabolites, leading to chronic inflammation. When particular parasitic bacteria occur in bowels of people with certain genes, it would induce Ankylosing arthritis.

In fact, long term flora imbalance would lead to chronic intestinal inflammation, thus affecting health. Moreover, some pathogenic bacteria would produce carcinogen or lead to problems of the nervous and immune systems. In general, the reason of flora imbalance is closely knitted to the modern lifestyle. The two main reasons are long term exposure to stress and imbalance diet. Flora imbalance would also lead to various health problems, affecting different organs and systems, including the digestive, skin, arthrosis, immune, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. It could also induce a number of chronic, degenerative and aging diseases, causing pathological aging. Therefore, we must be aware of the flora balance in our body. Apart from avoiding food that can cause allergy or with bad bacteria, we can also consider taking probiotic and digestive enzyme supplements, changing our eating habits, by reducing carbohydrates and fat and increasing dietary fiber intake, and enhancing our liver detoxification capacity, to remedy the flora imbalance situation.

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