Russian bacteriologist Dr. Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov discovered that probiotics have a beneficial effect on health and received the Nobel Prize for this discovery. Namely, he was the first to see that Bulgarian peasants who drink kefir live longer than those who don’t – reveals the clinical biochemistry specialist Dr. Sci. med. Tatjana Ristić, in conversation with Marina Jablanovand points out that the microbiota has a multiple role in preserving human health, which has been proven by numerous scientific studies in later research.
It is said that “health comes through the mouth”. How connected is our digestive system to immunity, actually?
– The gastrointestinal system, after the respiratory system, with its surface of 300-400 m2, is the second largest entity that connects the organism with the outside world. The role of this system is the breakdown of food into smaller components and the absorption of nutrients, but at the same time the elimination of substances that are potentially hazardous to health.
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A large part of the immune system is located precisely in the walls of the digestive system. In order for it to function for its normal physiological function, bacteria are needed, but some can be pathogenic (harmful to health).
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“Good” bacteria in the intestinal tract have several different roles: synthesis of vitamins, synthesis of neurotransmitters and amino acids, metabolizing food ingredients. Modern research observes a connection between intestinal flora and diabetes, autoimmune diseases, immunity and psychological conditions such as depression.
What happens when the balance in the intestinal microflora is disturbed?
– Dysbiosis occurs, and this imbalance of “good” and “bad” bacteria can cause a host’s metabolic or immune response. This happens when the organism is in a state of stress or in people whose diet is characterized by a high intake of saturated fat, red meat, foods rich in trans-fatty acids and a low intake of fiber and other valuable ingredients.
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How do probiotics help the intestinal flora to return to balance?
– One of the mechanisms by which probiotics participate in the modification of the intestinal microflora is the creation of lactic acid, which lowers the local pH and inhibits the growth of bacteria sensitive to an acidic environment. It is believed that probiotics “compete” with pathogenic bacteria for places on epithelial cells, thus preventing the colonization of these bacterial species.
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Probiotics have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, anti-teratogenic properties (teratogens damage the development of the embryo or fetus such as radiation, maternal infections, chemicals and drugs). They improve the balance of intestinal microflora, strengthen the intestinal barrier and local immune response, enable digestion and the passage of food through the intestines.
Would you explain the connection between probiotics and immunity?
– Probiotics increase the activity of cells of the immune system by acting on local and systemic response factors, and stimulate the creation of certain antibodies, which expands their application. In this way, there is a favorable effect in allergic diseases – allergic rhinitis, asthma, allergy to cow’s milk proteins, as well as in eczema.
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Clinical studies from 2011 confirmed that continuous use of probiotics for three months reduces the severity and prevalence of eczema. Even the preventive application of probiotics of lactobacilli strains in mothers who are atopic (prone to allergic reactions), as well as in babies in the first six months of life, reduced the manifestation of eczema symptoms.
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I would like to point out that the atopic condition is primarily a matter of immunity and requires a complex approach. The use of skin care products is an auxiliary tool and the advice of a dermatologist is important, but the main focus is to address the body’s immune response. This reduces the use of corticosteroids, as a rather aggressive therapy that is the basis for the treatment of allergic diseases.
What foods, besides yogurt and kefir, contain probiotics?
– These are fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles (without vinegar), miso soup, tempeh (fermented soybean product), but also the preparation of bread with probiotic yeast.
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Is it enough to take probiotics through food?
– Intake of probiotics exclusively through food is not enough. In addition to dietary intake, ready-made probiotics, which represent a carefully selected combination of at least three probiotic cultures, are required for people prone to immune problems and otherwise.
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Probiotics of the new generation usually contain several different strains with specific effects on human health, and their concentration is extremely high – they number in the tens of billions. Such mixtures of strains are recommended for children, adults and the elderly with weak immunity. They are indispensable in case of antibiotic therapy, chronic and acute diarrhea and numerous other disorders in the digestive system.
What are prebiotics and how important is their role?
– In order to get the maximum benefits from probiotic foods, it is also necessary to consume prebiotics. Prebiotics are food for beneficial bacteria or probiotics. Prebiotics are indigestible oligosaccharides.
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For children, one of the key benefits of prebiotics is that they help the absorption of important bone-building minerals, calcium and magnesium, help build bones, but also prevent the absorption of toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, manganese. In this way, prebiotics play a significant role in reducing the symptoms of hyperkinetic syndrome and autism. They provide energy, but do not raise blood sugar levels, so they are useful for diabetics.
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By increasing the number of already existing bacteria, the complete immunity is strengthened, as well as the production of key immunoglobulins that fight pathogens. Colds and infections are less common in children who take prebiotics. Prebiotics reduce appetite, reduce body weight or fat percentage, and improve glucose tolerance.
Which foods are rich in prebiotics?
– Among the best sources of natural prebiotics are onions, garlic, leeks, berries, beans, artichokes, asparagus, as well as foods rich in oligosaccharides, such as unripe bananas and legumes. You will also find it in pasta, potatoes and rice, but only after they have been previously cooked and left to stand long enough to increase the amount of oligosaccharides in them.
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What is your advice for good health?
– I would like to point out that probiotics improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics as well as in healthy people and reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels. That’s why, first of all, I advise a correction of the diet – the intake of foods of predominantly plant origin, chicken, whole grains, nuts, as well as the intake of fermented foods, and I would also recommend the regular intake of probiotics, in combination with prebiotics.
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Preference should always be given to food prepared at home in comparison to ready-made, industrially prepared or bought in restaurants, especially fast food. The time invested in the preparation of homemade food can be shorter, by preparing simple dishes, and the effect on health and the general condition of improving energy is multiple!
Source: www.sitoireseto.com
