Intestine

We all want to maintain physical and mental health, feel joy and satisfaction, and have a lot of energy to act. Unfortunately, many people suffer from depressed mood and other ailments.

Caring for health and well-being should start with the intestines. The interior of our intestines consists of a huge number of neurons, so it is said that the intestine is the second human brain. The brain and intestines with the microbiota is a two-way pathway that connects the gut and intestinal flora with the central nervous system, involving neuronal, endocrine and immune mechanisms. The gut microbiota is the most important factor influencing the central nervous system, mood and behavior. The intestines send information about how you feel through the vagus nerve. Behavioral disorders and the state of the psyche with long-lasting stress affect the functioning of the intestine and change the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Conversely, changes in the gut microbiota affect the functions of the gut and the brain.

The factors regulating the gut-brain axis include, among others cortisol, short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and the intestinal microflora (microbiota).

The intestinal microflora of a healthy person comprises a total of about 100 trillion beneficial microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and even viruses), 10 times the total number of cells in the human body. The human intestines can contain as many as 500 to 1000 beneficial species of microorganisms. Most of them are found in the large intestine, with a predominance of Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The health-promoting effect of microorganisms living in the digestive tract is documented by thousands of clinical studies. They confirm that an efficient microbiome influences the digestive tract (intestinal peristalsis, regular defecation, lactose digestion, optimal availability of B vitamins and vitamin K, absorption of nutrients), immune system (protection of intestinal epithelial cells, protection of the body against toxins and oxygen free radicals), central nervous system (proper functioning of the intestine - brain - intestine axis, maintaining emotional balance and good mood), reproductive system, skin. Gut bacteria can help to reduce the permeability of the intestinal barrier, supporting the functions of the immune system. The intestinal barrier is like a filter that is supposed to let through what is beneficial to health and stop what is endangering us.

The composition and abundance of the microbiome may be disturbed e.g. through stress, change in lifestyle, fatigue, diseases, sudden changes in diet, alcohol, sugar, use of certain medications (especially antibiotics).

Should you supplement with probiotics and prebiotics? Yes, this is essential to staying healthy. Of course, the most important thing is a healthy and hygienic lifestyle and a proper diet. However, the modern lifestyle, excess stress and the high availability of highly processed food are not conducive to our intestinal flora. That is why it is worth supporting yourself with dietary supplements. It is assumed that the treatment with probiotics should last no less than 2-3 months continuously, and even six months after antibiotic therapy. Probiotics containing single bacterial strains are usually dedicated to people with a specific ailment in which the beneficial effects of a given microorganism have been confirmed. In order to rebuild the intestinal microbiota, it is worth choosing multi-strain preparations, as well as synbiotics which are a combination of prebiotic and probiotics. You should also remember to change the type of probiotic taken from time to time.