This article was emailed to me, which explains the Internal Ecosystem better than I could.

Almost a century ago, Nobel laureate Dr. Elias Metchnikoff wrote his ground breaking book Prolongation of Life, noting a direct link between healthy intestinal flora and human longevity. Today, many of the world's most brilliant health scientists are using state-of-the-art laboratory technology and research techniques to document Metchnikoff's findings. Modern research is confirming that a healthy balance of human intestinal flora in the digestive tract is closely linked to healing, immune system enhancement, disease prevention and lifespan extension.

Your Internal Ecosystem

The human body contains a myriad of internal ecosystems. Billions of microorganisms coexist within our bodies, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes not. The flora within our gastrointestinal tract make-up perhaps the most vast of these systems. 400 distinct species of intestinal flora make up nearly four pounds of an individual's body weight! They dramatically influence and even direct every person's state of health and well-being-both physical and mental.

If everything is in balance and functioning effectively with metabolism operating at peak levels to provide essential enzymes, nutrients and chemicals to the rest of the body, healthful conditions prevail. The microorganisms work together in a complex, symbiotic relationship to:

Guard your body against harmful bacteria, yeast and viruses
Stimulate function of the entire digestive system
Maintain vital chemical and hormonal balance
Produce essential vitamins and regulate their levels
Release accumulated toxins from your system
Perform a vast number of functions that help maintain high energy levels and proper immune functioning

When the ecology of the gastrointestinal tract is disturbed, however, "friendly" microorganisms can no longer flourish in numbers necessary for proper balance and can quickly become "unfriendly." Such conditions pave the way for harmful toxin-producing bacteria and fungi to begin taking over, further disrupting the delicate balance.

Disrupters

There are many common factors in modern day life and diet that dramatically alter the acid/alkaline levels in the intestines, thereby disrupting the balance of intestinal flora in the gastrointestinal tract. These include stress and many common prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as:

Antibiotics
Pain killers
Anti-inflammatories
Birth Control/HRT
Cortisones

Excessive consumption of many foods and beverages, typical in the diet of more than ninety percent of Americans, is also a disrupter of this balance. These include:

Processed foods
Excessive sugar consumption
Excessive yeast consumption
Meat
Rich, fatty foods
Dairy products
Excessive alcohol consumption
Colas and carbonated beverages
Chlorinated water

The Consequences

Disruption of the balance of intestinal flora may lead to the over growth of disease causing, putrefactive bacteria that eventually overcome beneficial bacteria, opening the door to an onset of serious health problems. As colonies of unfriendly bacteria grow, they often discharge highly toxic byproducts while reacting with foods in the digestive tract. This reaction can further upset the ecology of the gastrointestinal tract, in essence, slowly poisoning the entire body. Such conditions may be a factor leading to the onset of chronic degenerative diseases such as colon cancer, heart disease, and other extremely serious conditions.

Signs of Gastrointestinal Imbalance

Candida Infections
High Cholesterol Levels
Allergies
Chronic Fatigue
Skin Conditions
Frequent Diarrhea
Rapid Onset of Osteoporosis
Frequent Intestinal Gas
Chronic Bad Breath
Vitamin B Deficiencies
Frequent Constipation
Sensitivity to Dairy Products
Poor Immune Response
Yeast Infections
Chronic Bladder Infections
Chronic Sexual Infections
Menstrual Problems