Why are there bacteria in the digestive tract?

Bacteria in the digestive tract are recruited from the moment we are born. As a matter of fact, one third of breast milk is dedicated to ensuring the development of these helpful bacteria. While breast milk is certainly full of nutrients and protective elements, this third is made up of complex, long chain sugars called oligosaccharides that cannot be used by the infant for nourishment. Instead, they remain undigested and end up in the large intestine where these sugars are actually used by certain bacteria as fuel for growth. The sugars stimulate the growth of certain beneficial bacteria and can act to block pathogenic or bad bacteria and eliminate them before they can do any harm. It is in these early days that a protective bacterial population is developed in our gut. This is a foundation for health and prevention of infection.

Throughout life, the gut responds to its environment and attempts to maintain a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria to grow and thrive within the intestinal space, ideally choosing the bacteria that contribute to defending and maintaining a healthy digestive system. As we continue on in the world, we are constantly surrounded by bacteria that are looking for a place to grow and thrive. The digestive tract acts as a barrier between you and this outside world, and the protective bacterial population is an important component of your overall defense system. It works to defend against bad bacteria, stopping them before they can get to the rest of the body.

Even though the digestive system is designed to do this, it would be difficult and energetically costly to fight and destroy all the bacteria that we come across throughout the course of our daily lives. So, over time the gut has learned to recognize the bacteria that will not harm us and will live within the intestinal space without trying to cross the intestinal barrier. It is the bacteria that try to cross the intestinal barrier that are the most dangerous and our bodies' immune response is reserved for fighting these bacteria if they pose a serious threat to our health.

So, like any community or ecosystem different groups of bacteria co-exist in the gut Ð there are "good bacteria" and "bad bacteria." Each must compete for food and are interdependent of others in the community. The success of the community depends on everyone contributing. Ideally, this intestinal environment favors the bacteria that are valuable members of this community and that contribute to the health of the gut.

The term "bad bacteria" covers a wide range. Some types if present in low numbers can cause problems like food poisoning. Others simply offer no benefit and don't have a dramatic effect on our health. Instead they use fuel and change the intestinal balance, therefore not promoting optimal health. However, there are also bacteria that are neither good nor bad; they are able to live in the intestinal space without having a dramatic effect on health. And others that only become bad when something causes a disruption in the normal environmental conditions and balance. Disruption to the balance may result from stress, antibiotics, illness or less than optimal nutrition.

The bacteria that are considered beneficial to us, "good bacteria," and part of a healthy GI tract, are those that are able to help defend the gut wall by either adding a layer of protection between the bad bacteria and your blood or by releasing agents that are able to kill bacteria that pose a threat to us and the good bacteria. The beneficial bacteria, through the process of breaking down fiber, produce components that our body's can use as fuel and contribute to the strength of the intestinal barrier. They may also police the intestinal space and control the less desirable members of the community.

In the end, we shouldn't be afraid of all bacteria. Good bacteria actually can help keep you healthy and promote your wellbeing. As with anything else, having a community that works together to protect its environment is most successful.

Share Attune with 3 friends and receive 20% off of your next order (minimum purchase of $14.99). Go to www.attunefoods.com/share-with-a-friend to enter their contact information and receive an email with your special discount code.

Introducing our Store Locator
In addition to Whole Foods, Attune wellness bars are now available in Vitamin Cottage, Wegmans Food Markets, New Leaf Community Markets, Ukrops and Piazza Fine Foods. Find our delicious, probiotic bars in the dairy case next to yogurt. If you don't see them, be sure to ask the dairy manager.

To make it easier to find Attune near you, we now have a Store Locator available on our website. Please go to stores.attunefoods.com. Be sure to visit the store locator frequently as we continue to add new retail locations.

Joy of Sports Foundation's Walk Across America
Attune Foods was a proud sponsor of the Joy of Sports Foundation's Walk Across America! The 10-day campaign challenged participants to monitor the total number of steps taken each day with the use of a pedometer. Walk Across America is designed to engage kids and the community in daily physical activity and help combat the current epidemic of obesity in America. Together, the aim was to reach 17 million steps needed to virtually tour the nation.

The campaign was a great success motivating the group to circle the nation not once – but more than twice! The Attune team will donate over $500 to Joy of Sports and looks forward to continuing our lunch time walks. We encourage you to clip on a pedometer and aim to reach 10,000 or more steps each day! For more information on the Joy of Sports Foundation, visit them online at www.joyofsports.org.

We have heard from many of you how much you love Attune bars and want to share the wellness with others. We are looking for passionate Attune fans to join us in improving the way people eat and feel. So if you are one of those who jump at the chance to tell others about great new products, we want you as an Attune Ambassador!

As an Attune Ambassador you will freely tell friends, family, and colleagues about the great tasting and efficacious Attune wellness bars. We will supply you with brochures, coupons and product samples. There is even a chance to win larger prizes like gift certificates and fun Attune swag. All we ask for in return is your feedback. We will send you up to 4 surveys a year and may even give you a call to hear what you think.

If you are interested in becoming an Attune Ambassador, please email us your contact information at ambassador@attunefoods.com.

Is it your job to recommend healthy foods to others? Are you a dietician, fitness or health care professional that is interested in sharing Attune to larger groups of people? If so, you are a great candidate for our Attune Advocate program. Just like the Attune Ambassador, we will send you brochures, coupons and products samples, but in larger quantities to meet your needs. Please email us at advocate@attunefoods.com to get more information about this exciting program.

Backroads, the #1 active travel company, will now be packing Attune wellness bars on select trips. Whether it is biking through Tuscany or hiking in Alaska, Backroads offers active travel packages as a way to better connect with the world. We are thrilled to offer Attune to Backroads' guests helping them feel their best while taking on new adventures!

Trip leader Mike Flaherty began distributing Attune bars on multi-sport trips in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and thought it was great to see guests' reactions. Mike observed, "They absolutely lit up when I supplied them with a second Attune bar! They just knew they were getting a delicious, quality product!"

Take Attune on your next trip! Your digestive system can often seem off balance when traveling due to changes in diet and schedule. The probiotics in Attune are a great aid to keep your digestive system humming right along. Plus, Attune is a tasty and convenient snack that is a snap to pack!

Interested in joining Backroads for an unforgettable trip? Visit them online, at www.backroads.com.

As a new company, we greatly appreciate your feedback. Everyone who completes our new survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of three prizes!

1st prize is your choice of a $100 SpaFinder.com or REI Gift Certificate.
2nd prize is a box of Chocolate Wellness bars and a box of Yogurt Granola Wellness bars.
3rd prize is an Attune T-shirt & water bottle.

Click here to activate the survey.

Want to see where you might be able to meet Attune? Check our website for upcoming Attune events: www.attunefoods.com/events

Attune to You!

"Do you want to be the power in the world? Then be yourself."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson