That's why you should eat lactic acid bacteria

Poor diet and a lifestyle with high stress expose the intestinal flora to great challenges. It is known today that the species richness and amount of bacteria in the intestinal flora is affected by how we live and what we eat, and that the greater the species richness of the intestinal flora, the better resistance we have to disease and imbalance. A one-sided and low-fiber diet and a sedentary lifestyle deplete the intestinal flora.

Antibiotics

Even medicines can negatively affect the intestinal flora. Antibiotics are a common cause of disturbed intestinal flora. Antibiotics knock out large parts of the intestinal flora and can disturb the composition of the intestinal flora in a way that can take a long time to restore. The degree of effect on the intestinal flora depends on the length of treatment and type of antibiotic – narrow-spectrum antibiotics have less effect than broad-spectrum, longer treatment time has more effect than short treatment time.

Stress affects diversity

Research on mice has shown that even stress can lead to a changed intestinal flora. Mice that were stressed by being moved to unfamiliar cages responded with a reduced diversity of bacteria in their gut. In other experiments, a shift in the bacterial composition could be seen from protective bacteria such as lactobacilli to inflammation-driving so-called Gram-negative bacteria when the mice were exposed to stress.

Lactic acid bacteria has many properties

Regular intake of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria from different strains favors the growth of a healthy intestinal flora and a better microbial diversity through many different positive properties.

Production of antimicrobial substances

• lactic acid and other organic acids - provides a beneficial pH value in the intestine, which counteracts bad bacteria.
• bacteriocins - proteinaceous substances that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
• antimicrobial substances such as e.g. H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) - which also inhibits the growth of bad bacteria.
  

Inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria (pathogens)

• lactic acid bacteria compete with pathogens (disease-causing bacteria) to attach to the intestinal cells. The more good bacteria that attach to the intestinal mucosa, the less room for bad bacteria to establish themselves in the intestine.
• lactic acid bacteria stimulate mucus formation in the intestine, which makes it more difficult for pathogens to take hold.

Modulation of the immune system

• lactic acid bacteria have a regulatory effect on our immune cells.
• breaks down toxins, lactose etc.
• supports the own intestinal flora.

Summary< /h2>Lactic acid bacteria do not colonize the intestine for a long time, but function as a support for our own, established intestinal flora during the short time they live in the intestine (approx. 2–20 days).

‍That is why it is beneficial to have a regular intake of both lactic acid and bifidobacteria.