Healthy gut bacteria: Helpers for your health

Healthy gut bacteria: Small, important helpers

Millions of them live in the human gut - the so-called microbiome. And this influences our lives. Unimaginable: a single gram of intestinal contents contains more living organisms than there are people on earth - bacteria, viruses and fungi. In total, the intestine has around 100 trillion inhabitants that break down food, among other things.

via Anna-Lisa

07/06/2016, 08:24

Gesunde Darmbakterien: Kleine, wichtige Helfer — Healthy gut bacteria: Small, important helpers

Dafür sind Darmbakterien zuständig — Intestinal bacteria are responsible for this

Healthy gut bacteria: Different for every person

Scientists have already identified around 1,000 species . Astonishingly, some of these bacteria are the same in all of us, but the entire microbiome differs considerably from person to person.

Sick, fat or depressed?

In addition to digestion, intestinal bacteria have a variety of tasks. Healthy gut bacteria ensure that the body's own defenses develop properly and they produce vitamins. But unhealthy gut bacteria make us ill if we are under too much stress or have a poor diet. The body's own happiness hormones are also produced in the gut. Researchers now suspect that the microbiome is even responsible for conditions such as depression or morbid obesity.

Good for the intestinal flora

There are many foods that help to build up healthy gut bacteria: Whole grain products, legumes, vegetables and natural yogurt. According to experts, eating three main meals is ideal. Exercise is also good for the gut.

Healthy gut bacteria, unhealthy gut bacteria

Healthy gut bacteria:
Bifidobacteria produce acid and keep pathogens away.
Coli bacteria can produce vitamins.
Lactobacilli break down lactose.

Unhealthy intestinal bacteria:
Campylobacter cause infectious diarrhea.
Enterococci cause cystitis.
Clostridia are responsible for diarrhea.