Why Are Friendly Bacteria So Important?  

The 100 trillion or so bacteria that live in your gut, commonly referred to as the ‘gut microbiome’, are now considered almost to be an organ in their own right and perhaps as important to your health and happiness as your genes. Needless to say, you need to look after them!

Research into the gut microbiome has exploded in the last couple of decades. Once considered just to be involved in the workings of the gastrointestinal system, we now know that the gut bacteria can influence pretty much every aspect of health, from bowel function, immune system health, infection risk, skin health, allergy and healthy ageing to blood sugar balance, mental health, brain function and much more. And it is likely that we still only know a fraction of what the gut microbiome is capable of. What we do know for sure however is that it is absolutely vital to protect, nurture and preserve this delicate internal ecosystem. Your health depends on it!

What does the gut microbiome do?
✓ Helps the body to absorb nutrients
✓ Fights infections
✓ Produces health-promoting substances
✓ Supports lactose digestion
✓ Makes some essential vitamins
✓ Supports regular bowel movements
✓ Creates enzymes that destroy harmful bacteria
✓ Crowds out harmful organisms
✓ Protects your health
✓ Helps your body to function properly
✓ Protects against toxins
✓ Regulates the health effects of diet and lifestyle choices


What is ‘gut dysbiosis’?
There are thousands of different types of bacteria in your gut, and a delicate balance exists between health-promoting and harmful bacteria. A healthy gut contains a balance in the region of 85% good / 15% bad bacteria. When this balance shifts more in favour of unhealthy organisms, a condition known as ‘gut dysbiosis’ occurs.

Did you know?
 • 70 – 80% of your immune system is found in your gut
• The gut is responsible for producing 95% of serotonin, the body’s happy neurotransmitter
• The gut microbiome was the headline topic at the world’s largest international neuroscience conference in 2017
• Friendly bacteria are very sensitive and are affected by stress and noise!
• ‘Sour foods’ such as fermented vegetables (sauerkraut) and apple cider vinegar contain powerful acidic substances that feed friendly bacteria

Things that nurture a healthy gut microbiome
✓ Wide variety of fruits and vegetables (aim for 30 different types/week)
✓ High fibre diet (chia seeds, flax seeds)
✓ Sweet potato
✓ Apple cider vinegar
✓ Fermented foods (live yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi)
✓ Natural, unrefined wholefoods
✓ Relaxation
✓ Peace and calm
✓ Exercise
✓ Restorative sleep
✓ Natural cleaning and personal hygiene products
✓ Probiotic supplementation with specific researched strains


Things that harm the gut microbiome
✗ Antibiotics
✗ Medications
✗ Typical Western diet high in sugar, saturated fat and processed foods
✗ Low fibre
✗ Gluten
✗ Foreign travel
✗ GMO foods
✗ Alcohol and smoking
✗ Lack of exercise
✗ Poor sleep
✗ Noise
✗ Emotional stress
✗ Overly sanitised food and environment
✗ Environmental toxins

Probiotic supplementation – here’s what you need to know!
Taking a daily probiotic supplement can be a useful way to help nurture a healthy gut microbiome. Two of the best known types of probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium as these are known to be prevalent in a healthy human gut. Saccharomyces boulardii is the only yeast which has been officially recognised as a probiotic.

1. Not all probiotic supplements are the same.
It’s important to understand the basics of probiotics terminology so you can confidently select an effective product. Probiotics are classified according to Genus (eg. Lactobacillus), Species (eg. Acidophilus) and Strain (eg. NCFM®). It’s crucial to choose a product which contains specific identifiable probiotic strains that have been well researched. Many studies also show that probiotic strains work better when combined rather than taken alone.

Highly researched probiotic strains:
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® - One of the best researched probiotic strains in the world, backed by over 60 clinical studies.
Lactobacillus paracasei lpc-37 – A well-researched lactobacillus strain with extensive benefits demonstrated for health.
Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 - A therapeutic, well-researched strain of Bifidobacterium which is one of the most common beneficial bacteria found in the intestinal tract.
Bifidobacterium animalis subs lactis Bi-04 - Bifidobacteria are highly prevalent in the intestinal tract and researched strains appear to be among the best probiotics for supporting immune function.
Saccharomyces boulardii – The only yeast which has been officially recognised as a probiotic and with extensive evidence supporting its safety and efficacy against many types of diarrhoea.

2. In addition to choosing a product that contains well-researched strains, a probiotic supplement must also be able to demonstrate:
Proven delivery and survival: the probiotic must tolerate bile, gastric juices and acids in order to survive the digestive process.
Guaranteed stability and quality: the probiotic must stay potent throughout its shelf life and remain alive and active.
High potency for clinical effectiveness: a probiotic supplement, in order to be effective, must supply billions of organisms per serving.

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