We continue to address in this blog all the benefits of a balanced and diversified intestinal microbiota for our health !
Indeed, it is now considered important for the majority of us and many articles, all press combined, are there to remind us the importance of taking care of our microbiota … But what is it really composed of ? What does a balanced intestinal microbiota mean? And above all, how to pamper it?
The intestinal microbiota is the set of microorganisms (bacteria, but also virus, yeasts, etc.) colonizing the digestive tract. Each person has his own microbiota even though we have about a third of species in common. It intervenes in several functions such as digestive and immune functions. Various studies also demonstrate its involvement in chronic inflammatory diseases as well as our general emotional state (stress, nervosity, etc.).
All this reinforces the fact that a balanced intestinal microbiota acts on our well-being in a general way. A balanced microbiota means that it is diversified and therefore composed of a large variety of different bacteria, in order to avoid the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the digestive tract (causing diseases).
Certain parameters such as diet, environment, global health status or stress can lead to disruptions whose impacts on our health are variable. This is called dysbiosis, which is characterized by the multiplication of some bacterial populations or harmful yeasts to the detriment of others.
To avoid these inconveniences, the microbiota must be maintained. At first, it means having a balanced diet. We can also focus on certain foods, including fermented foods, but also those that are sources of dietary fiber.
Our food choices will therefore contribute to feed our good bacteria. Their preferred fuel is prebiotic fiber, mainly contained in fruits, vegetables, some cereals and spices … While it will be better to exclude alcohol, and food sources of sugars or caffeine.
Food supplements are also interesting when it is desired to act on the balance of our intestinal bacteria. Indeed, there are many providing probiotic bacteria and / or various prebiotic fibers allowing a wide field of action on the gut microbiota.
The practice of a physical activity would also permit to have a more diversified microbiota ! You get it, the most important thing is to act on our general lifestyle !
Another important factor: antibiotics. These molecules destroy the bad bacteria but also the good ones, at the origin of the state of dysbiosis. It is therefore advisable to limit the use of antibiotics as much as possible in order to avoid the massive destruction of our gut microbiota.
These are valuable tips that you will undoubtedly be useful in view of the many meals of end of the year that await you !
MM
