OUR GUT HEALTH AND NUTRIENT ABSORPTION
“Imbalances in
the bacterial environment of the intestine can cause a decline in nutrients
absorption.”
Our digestive system is
complex yet unique. It is essential for our daily digestion and absorption of
nutrients. Interestingly, apart from our own physiological and biological
digestive mechanisms, there is another mechanism is involved, the
enterobacterial activity. From the Greek word “enteron” for intestine, related
to the Greek “enteros” meaning within. This means, the activity of the bacteria
in our intestine is within our body. This activity is vital as it optimised our
day to day digestion and nutrients absorption from foods.
Probiotic and Our health
As we age, our body
physiological and biological functions start to slow down including our
digestive system. Thus, food should be properly cooked and chewed to avoid
burdening our digestive system. In return, we could allow our digestive system
to focus on enhancing the absorption and assimilation of nutrients from food. Unfortunately,
depending on what you chose to eat also influenced our nutrient absorption. Processed
foods with its multitudinous food additives greatly influence the delicate
balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, by suppressing or inhibiting
enterobacterial activity. As a result, our
human body is introduced with the possibility of imbalances in the bacterial environment in the intestine which
leads to poor nutrient absorption. Overall, we are at risk of being nutrient
deficiency as we grow older.
Recently, a book by Dr. Fred
Pescatore and Karolyn A. Gazella, titled “Boost Your Health with Bacteria”, has
taken the topic of bacteria to a new level of awareness, understanding, and
therapeutic application. In this book, it stressed that beneficial bacterial
not only intimately associated with digestive system, but also profoundly
influence immunity, inflammation and insulin resistance. From the book, scientific
research is confirming that bacteria may even be linked to depression, anxiety,
weight loss, insomnia, fatigue and other health issues. Moreover, the change in
the bacteria in our environment has become one of the basic factors triggering
diverse physical disorders, including allergic diseases and possibly cancer. This
clearly shows that lacking in probiotics supplementation could lead to the
degeneration in the physical condition of modern people.
The Benefits of Probiotics |
Do we need Probiotic?
Significantly, I believe people
always ask, “Do I need probiotics?” What I can advise is, as long as you are
alive, you need probiotics. This hinted us that probiotics are meant for
everyone, from infant to older adults. For parents who are worried, probiotics
are safe for children of any age. It is especially recommended for a child who
has been on an antibiotic as it could help re-establish proper bacterial
balance. When taken daily, probiotics can help a child to have a strong
digestive system and immune function. On the other hand, beneficial bacteria
have been shown to help prevent some of the most serious illnesses of our time
including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
- help synthesize B and K vitamins
- enhance gastrointestinal motility and function
- enhance digestion and nutrient absorption
- obstruct the growth of “bad bacteria” and other pathogens
- help metabolize other plant compounds/drugs
- produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyamines
- produce coagulation and growth factors
- produce cytokines (cell signaling molecules)
- help regulate intestinal mucus secretion and ultilization
- help regulate blood flow to the viscera
In brief, probiotic bacteria used in commercial products today are largely Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. For example, on food label it is often showed as "Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG".
The first name that appears is the genus (Lactobacillus).The second name designates the species within the genus (rhamnosus).
The third name or number that appears is the specific strain within the species (GG).
What makes probiotics?
Most often, probiotics are created via fermentation. Fermentation simply collects them and gives them a nice place to grow. Fermentation organisms produce alcohol, lactic acid, and acetic acid, preservatives that retain nutrients and prevent spoilage. In addition, fermentation allows the food to be more digestible, better nutrients absorption and more proteins.
Source of Probiotics
Getting probiotics from food:
- If you are healthy, aim for 1-2 servings of probiotic rich foods each day (yogurt, cheese, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, soy sauce and wine).
Probiotic with prebiotics |
- Supplemental doses are typically expressed in billions of live organisms. Between 3 and 5 billion would be a starting dose. This could be increased to 10 billion if you are hoping to alleviate a specific health concern. Take with food/drink and use a reputable brand.