Before You Buy Probiotics, Learn About the Friendly Gut Bacteria You Already Have Print 18 LikeDislike By Colleen Webb Probiotics seem to be all the rage these days with hundreds of different products exploding from drug store shelves. But to understand what probiotics are and how they can help your digestion, you need to understand a little bit about a pretty special organ: the gut! Along with the gut, some knowledge of the “friendly” bacteria residing in the gut– otherwise known as the microbiome! The human gut (or gastrointestinal tract) is a truly extraordinary organ. Not only does it play an integral role in the digestion and absorption of food, the gut is also our body’s most important regulator of the immune system. More than 60 percent of immune cells are located in the gut. In fact, the gut’s immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and is home to the largest portion of lymphoid tissue in the entire body! This means that this mucosal layer contains immune cells like T and B lymphocytes that protect and defend the body from invading pathogens. What’s more, the gut hosts approximately 100 trillion bacteria cells, most of which are located in the colon (the large intestine). In fact, we have more bacteria in our intestines than we do cells in our bodies! Together, these bacteria comprise the microbiome, a distinct “community” of microorganisms that differs from person to person. In this way, everyone’s microbiome is completely unique. Your body’s relationship with your colonic bacteria, or gut flora, is really a symbiotic one (i.e., mutually beneficial!). Under normal circumstances, these commensal bacteria don’t want to hurt you, and you definitely shouldn’t want to hurt them.. All the “good” bacteria want is a comfortable habitat and food from you. In exchange, they provide you with protection and defense. Your gut flora cares for you in many ways:It strengthens the immune systemCompetes with pathogenic “bad” bacteriaCreates an uninhabitable environment for pathogens by altering your gut’s pHFortifies your intestinal wall so that it blocks harmful substances from enteringDecreases oxidative stressLowers inflammation By exerting all of these effects and more, the gut flora (or microbiome) has been shown to play a role in managing intestinal health, heart health, diabetes, obesity, autism, mood disorders and a number of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Like a fingerprint, everyone’s intestinal bacteria are different. Furthermore, the microbiome is subject to change! There are many factors that influence the bacterial profile of the gut, including: age, stress, infections, poor hygiene, alcohol, antibiotics, smoking, food, and vaginal delivery versus cesarean section. Many people try to promote better gut health by using off-the-shelf probiotics, which are ingestible live bacteria that are meant to enhance the health of the GI tract. However, choosing the right probiotic can be challenging and overwhelming without professional advice. Make an appointment with a gastroenterologist or GI nutritionist to discuss the best probiotics for you. In the meantime, you can strengthen and improve your gut flora—without a probiotic!—by simply following these easy tips:Add more fermented foods (i.e. probiotics) to your diet (try kimchee, kombucha, sauerkraut…) Get enough sleep! Studies show there is a powerful interplay between the mind and the gut. Limit your intake of sugar and alcohol, as these substances can negatively alter your gut flora. Note: PLEASE consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
furtherfood October 15, 2015 at 1:45 pmHi Dawn, the protein in dairy is called whey. But usually, when someone has trouble digesting dairy it is the sugar in the dairy, known as lactose. This is there lactose intolerance can occur! Normally, an enzyme called lactase breaks lactose down into simple sugar forms like glucose. Hope this helps! Reply ↓
What is Mushroom Coffee? What is Mushroom Coffee? What is mushroom coffee, and what does mushroom coffee taste like? This relatively new trend began to gain popularity around the 2010s and has grown to capture interest in all sectors of the food, health, and coffee indus...
Raw VS Cooked Vegetables: Benefits and Success Stories What You Need To Know About Raw VS Cooked Vegetables Interested in a raw food diet but unsure about how to get started? Proponents of a raw food lifestyle eat only uncooked and unprocessed foods because it is believed that heating food destroys i...
What To Know About The Bone Broth Weight Loss Diet What To Know About The Bone Broth Weight Loss Diet With all the mail I receive from people who are excited about starting the bone broth weight loss diet, there’s one question I’m hearing a lot: “Can I do this diet if I’m a vegetarian, pe...
5 Benefits of Exercise as You Age First of all, why is it important to stay active as we age? As we age, we can feel less stamina and agility than we did when we were younger. But this doesn’t mean we should stop moving altogether. In fact, it’s the opposite! By incorporating re...
Tips on How to Help With Constipation As a Functional Nutritional Therapist, one of the most common digestive complaints I hear from my patients is that they suffer from chronic constipation. They aren’t alone. In the U.S, we spend billions of dollars on over-the-counter and pharmaceu...
Vitality at Any Age – 10 Tips to Slow Down Aging As a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I often meet with women in their midlife and older who are struggling with signs of aging. They complain that their skin has lost its elasticity, they keep getting new wrinkles that seem to deepen da...