Healthy gut - healthy digestion

The process of digestion is a complex activity. It starts in the mouth and continues in the stomach and intestinal tract with the pancreas and bile, but the story doesn't end there. Many people believe that the stomach is where the bulk of digestion takes place, although most of the time and most of the digestion takes place in the small intestine, then comes the large intestine where the contents of the intestine are concentrated.

The gut microbiome is an increasingly researched topic these days. We wouldn't think that the state of the gut has such a wide-ranging impact on our overall health.

Our intestinal tract is home to many, many billions of living organisms, called gut flora. These micro-organisms create a unique gut flora, the state of which affects our mood, our resistance to disease, absorption of nutrients, etc. However, the bacteria in the gut flora are not a fixed, constantly changing due to external influences, diet, stress, illnesses and medicines (it's not by chance that we hear that we should take probiotics after a course of antibiotics).

When a healthy gut is disrupted, the balance of bacteria in the gut is upset, with pathogenic bacteria and fungi becoming predominant. This process can lead to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, but can also have more serious consequences such as damage to the intestinal lining and leaky gut syndrome. As our gut also plays an important role in the production of B vitamins, vitamin deficiencies can occur, not to mention impaired absorption of nutrients. Symptoms that are not directly intestinal such as skin problems, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, etc are also common.

An inadequate, unbalanced diet, too many sweets and refined foods, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle and a lot of stress all have a bad effect on the condition of our gut.

Most people don't even realise it, but they are creating very harsh conditions for their gut. Too much processed food, excessive consumption of sugary and fatty foods, low fibre intake, low fluid intake and a sedentary lifestyle are common problems. But the more varied our diet, the more varied our gut microbiome.

A healthy gut is essential for the digestion and proper absorption of nutrients. Problems with digestion and absorption can lead to deficiencies, unwanted weight loss or weight gain. Shifts in the bacteria in the gut flora affect the absorption of certain nutrients and energy expenditure. If we eat an unbalanced diet, our gut flora will also be unbalanced. Often we don't realise that the reason for the constant bloating, frequent headaches, fatigue and acne is because our gut is out of balance. It is very important to get to the root of the problem with medical help when problems and symptoms affecting the gut appear.

And restoring normal intestinal flora is essential to eliminate digestive problems.

Pro- and prebotics

Probiotics are micro-organisms that live in symbiosis with our body and play an essential role in maintaining internal balance. Probiotic foods and preparations contain beneficial bacteria that support the health of our gut flora and inhibit the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, as well as aid digestion and help in the absorption of nutrients. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non-digestible substances that are not affected by the digestive enzymes of the intestinal tract, and are passed unchanged into the large intestine where they stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria.

Rostok

A diet rich in fibre is essential for maintaining a healthy gut. Fibres are plant parts that are indigestible by the human body. Our digestive enzymes can't deal with them, so they are left partially or completely untouched. Among their many benefits are that they bind water, aid digestion and intestinal function, slow absorption and increase satiety, improve intestinal motility, and prevent the absorption of toxic breakdown products.

Omega-3

It's also good for the health of our gut flora to eat healthy, gut-friendly fats. Although omega-3 and -6 are essential fatty acids, it is still worth reducing your intake of omega-6, which is mostly found in vegetable oils such as sunflower oil and margarine. Olive oil and coconut oil are better substitutes. If fish is not part of the diet, omega-3 supplementation is recommended.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory, which in addition to being beneficial for gut flora, increases insulin sensitivity and helps reduce mental problems such as depression.

Flavonoids, polyphenols

Naturally occurring plant substances that are good for general health and intestinal health. Among their many positive effects, they are anti-inflammatory, protect against cardiovascular diseases and reduce the development of hypertension. Their effects are most pronounced in combination with other antioxidant compounds (e.g. vitamins A, C, E).