Why is healthy intestinal flora so important?

Posted: October 09, 2024
Irina Fink
Irina Fink

Naturopath

The intestine and its bacteria play a key role in determining whether you are healthy or not. This is because bacteria regulate numerous bodily functions. They produce vitamins that are important for our immune system, brain function, our metabolism and therefore also for our weight.

A healthy intestinal flora is crucial for a long and healthy life!

However, our modern lifestyle puts enormous strain on intestinal bacteria. Environmental pollution, highly processed foods, medication, nicotine and alcohol damage the gut. In addition, fiber and prebiotics are hardly consumed at all. 

This lifestyle leads to intestinal problems. The intestines are irritated and cannot work properly. Very serious health problems such as chronic inflammation, depression or cancer and heart disease can also result in the long term.

If your gut is fine - you are fine!

Our aim should be to build up a healthy intestinal flora with beneficial bacteria from the outset. This is because the gut is not just a digestive organ, 80% of our immune system is also directly linked to the gut. To keep the gut healthy, nutrients must be made available to the valuable gut bacteria. This happens through our choice of food:

Good for the gut:

  • Probiotics (bifidocultures)
  • Fermented products
  • Fruit, such as apples, pears, ...
  • Vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, ...
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Seeds and sprouts

Bad for the gut:

  • Heavily processed products
  • Refined cereals (wheat, ...)
  • Refined sugar
  • Refined oils and fats
  • Antibiotics
  • Hormones and steroids
  • Anti-inflammatory/acid inhibitors (remedies for heartburn)

But even if you eat a healthy diet, your gut sometimes needs external help to build up and maintain a healthy intestinal flora. But even after antibiotic therapy or too much fructose, for example, the gut needs our support to be able to work properly again. This is where pre- and probiotic supplements come into play. Prebiotics and probiotics interact with each other as they contain beneficial strains of bacteria and fiber. 

Protect your gut from everyday stress!

In addition to probiotics, we at Herbano also have other products that are good for your intestines: such as our intestinal cleansing capsules, turmeric capsules or the wheatgrass and barley grass powder for digestion.

In addition to your diet , pay attention to your stress levels, get enough sleep andexercise regularly . 

 

Sources (in English):

Clemente, J. C., Ursell, L. K., Parfrey, L. W. & Knight, R. (2012, March). The impact of the gut microbiota on human health: an integrative view. Cell, 148(6):1258-70, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.01.035

Dethlefsen, L., Huse, S., Sogin, M. L. & Relman, D. A. (2008, November). The pervasive effects of an antibiotic on the human gut microbiota, as revealed by deep 16S rRNA sequencing. PLoS biology, 6(11):e280, doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060280

Ouwehand, A. C., Salminen, S. & Isolauri, E. (2002, August). Probiotics: an overview of beneficial effects. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 82(1-4):279-89

Linares, D. M., Ross, P. & Stanton, C. (2016). Beneficial Microbes: The pharmacy in the gut. Bioengineered, 7(1):11-20, doi: 10.1080/21655979.2015.1126015.