• Posted 05/02/2019 1:42am

Protective Gut Bacteria

The natural bacteria inside and outside your body forms a protective barrier against harmful organisms and viruses that would otherwise make you unwell. In order to protect you, your good bacteria forms a ‘give-and-take’ relationship with your body. These protective bacteria are stopping other viruses and organisms from colonising other areas of your gut.

 

'Good' and 'Bad' Bacteria

These helpful bacterial organisms are able to recognise compounds that we need, and as well as that they produce compounds that protect our gut, and seal and heal our intestinal lining. Basically, it takes some of the nutrients that you eat in order to feed itself, and in return your bacteria reproduces and works hard to fight harmful bacteria.

But what type of food does your protective bacteria need?

Whatever goes through your mouth is foreign to your body, yet whatever arrives in your gut has to be recognised by your bacteria as either ‘foreign good,’ or ‘foreign bad.’ That’s amazing! How does our body know? Part of that is our gut bacteria.

Bacteria and Your Brain

The protective bacteria in our body is truly remarkable. In fact, recent studies published in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America have found a link between our protective gut bacteria and the chemicals in our brain.

In their studies, mice were fed the bacteria L. rhamnosus, which is available as a commercial probiotic supplement. It’s a protective bacteria linked to the preventing diarrhea and some respiratory tract infections. On top of that L. rhamnosus also produces a compound that reacts with the part of your brain that regulates emotional behavior. The mice fed L. rhamnosus also showed fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. While there is still some ways to go with this study, it’s further proof that what we eat has a much wider impact on our body as a whole.

Stay Well Man Christchurch Canterbury Good bacteria proactive health2

Bacteria and Your Immune System

Similarly, a lack of protective gut bacteria can throw your immune system off balance. Researchers in Copenhagen reviewed the medical records and stool samples of over 400 babies. Now, that’s a lot of dirty nappies! The end result was that those who didn’t have large, diverse numbers of gut bacteria were more likely to develop allergies.

In a sense, we really are what we eat. We’re not just feeding our bodies, but also the protective bacteria fighting to keep us fit and healthy.

Get Better Bacteria

Do you want to be more proactive about your health? Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, dealing with fatigue, depression, or constantly feeling gassy or bloated? Make a time to see Mark Webster, Stay Well Man at Stay Well Pharmacy to make sure you’re getting the right diet for you and your protective bacteria.

15 Dec

2020 Health Reset

Have you come out the other side of the holiday period feeling more than a little regret? Do you have a nagging voice inside your head saying, “I feel fat. I feel unwell. I’m really stressed”? Stay Well Clinic has a solution.

14 Oct

Case Study: Sensitive Skin

As parents, we always want to do what’s best for our children. Seeing them ill or in pain can be very distressing. All you want to do is hug them and make them better. But what do you do when the ‘conventional’ treatments aren’t working?

Latest Posts

  • Is your health stuck in a traffic jam?

    23 Thursday, 2020

    Don’t you just hate feeling like you’re stuck in traffic? You’re stuck on a long stretch of road, there are no turn-offs or off-ramps, and you feel like you’re going nowhere fast. Isn’t this the same sometimes with our health?

  • Are you really eating 'healthy'?

    15 Monday, 2020

    We’re told so much about food. What’s healthy, what’s good for us. There is so much information out there. New studies every month, it can get a bit confusing. Some of the experts in our industry who are meant to be telling us the ‘right’ or ‘healthy’ things to eat are sometimes dealing with corrupt information. 

  • Staying Connected In Isolation

    06 Monday, 2020

    At this time when we’re talking about isolation and social distancing, I want to encourage you that it’s not the same as losing the emotional connection to other people. For your wellbeing, how are you staying connected?

  • Your Seatbelt of Health

    13 Friday, 2020

    Coming into winter, what’s your seatbelt of health? What added layer of protection do you need to prevent yourself from serious harm?