Inside the human stomach is a harsh environment, loaded with acid and digestive enzymes. It's designed for a single purpose--to dissolve organic material so that the energy within may be used by the body. However, some life forms survive, and even thrive, in such conditions. A bacterium is a single-cell organism that doesn't need oxygen to survive. The word often conjures thoughts of infectious agents such as staphylococcus, Lyme disease or gonorrhea. However, most bacteria pose no harm to people, and some even assist the body in functioning properly.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is used by the liver in the production of clotting agents that prevent excess bleeding, and is also essential in developing strong bones. It exists in three forms: K-1, K-2 and K-3. Most vitamin K is absorbed from the foods we eat, such as spinach, collard greens and broccoli. K-2, however, is composed inside the intestines by a safe strain of the E-coli bacteria. These bacteria are not present in babies at birth, and therefore newborns are injected with a supplemental K vitamin shortly after delivery.
B-12
Vitamin B-12 aids the function of virtually every cell in the body. It's only produced by micro-organisms such as algae and bacteria. Genuine B-12 is attained by humans through the digestion of animal matter. It's then stockpiled in the liver until needed. Those who adopt a vegan lifestyle may attempt to gain vitamin B-12 through plant milks or fermented vegetation products. However, research suggests that such methods vary in reliability. (Areekul S, Pattanamatum S, et al. The source and content of vitamin B12 in the tempehs. J Med Assoc Thai 1990).
Helicobacter Pylori
Most potentially harmful bacteria are not well suited to live in the stomach, and die shortly after entering. However, at least one injurious organism is quite adept at surviving in such conditions. In 1982, Australian researchers Barry Marshall and Robin Warren conducted a study that found the bacteria helicobacter pylori to be responsible for stomach ulcers. This flew in the face of common understanding that gastric lesions of this sort were caused by stress. Helicobacter pylori survives in the stomach by secreting a compound that lowers the acidity level of the surrounding area. In the case of infection, acid-resistant antibiotics can be administered that disable the bacteria.
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