Why you should eat lactic acid bacteria

Poor diet and a high-stress lifestyle expose the intestinal flora to great challenges. It is known today that the species richness and bacterial abundance of the intestinal flora are influenced by how we live and what we eat and that the greater the species richness of the intestinal flora, the better our resistance to disease and imbalance. Unilateral and low-fiber diet and a sedentary lifestyle deplete the intestinal flora.

Antibiotics

Also, drugs can adversely affect the intestinal flora. Antibiotics are a common cause of disturbed intestinal flora. Antibiotics kill large parts of the intestinal flora and can disrupt 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 duration of treatment and the type of antibiotic — narrow-spectrum antibiotics affect less than broad-spectrum, longer treatment time affects more than short treatment time.

Stress Affects Diversity

Research in mice has shown that even stress can lead to an altered gut flora. Mice that were stressed by being moved to unfamiliar cages reacted with a reduced diversity of bacteria in their gut. In other experiments, we could see a shift in bacterial composition from protective bacteria such as lactobacilli, to inflammation-promoting so-called Gram-negative bacteria when the mice were exposed to stress.

Lactic acid bacteria have 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 antimicrobials

• lactic and other organic acids - provide a beneficial pH value in the intestine, which counteracts bad bacteria.
• bacteriocins - protein-containing substances that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
• antimicrobials such as H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) - which also inhibits the growth of bad bacteria.
  

Inhibits 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 bad bacteria will have room 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 impact on our immune cells.
• breaks down toxins, lactose, etc.
• supports their own intestinal flora.

Summary

Lactic acid bacteria do not colonize for a long time in the intestine, but act as a support for our own, established intestinal flora for the short time they live in the intestine (about 2—20 days).

‍Therefore, it is favorable to have a regular intake of both lactic acid and bifidobacteria.