Mention the word Bacteria and everyone pulls a face. Scary monsters come to mind, the kind that would whip out anything that stands in their way. But not all Bacteria is Bad. Our gut contains cells that form 70% of our immune system, so the health of your gut has a huge impact on the health of the rest of your body. You may be surprised to learn that what keeps the gut healthy is bacteria, the good kind!
What is ‘good bacteria’?
There are over 1000 species of good bacteria living in our gut and they all have different roles. We refer to them as the Microbiome. They take care of different functions including digestion, mental wellbeing, skin health and support of the immune system.
Types Of Good Bacteria
L. acidophilus and L. casei help to create an environment which encourages the growth of other good bacteria.
L. plantarum is said to help prevent leaky gut issues.
B. bifidus and L. reuteri have been linked with supporting a healthy immune response.
B. lactis and S. thermophilus have been found to help improve digestive comfort.
Why do we need supplementation
Our lifestyles today can really impact the health of our gut microbiome and beneficial bacteria can be killed off by:
• A high sugar diet
• Stress
• Artificial sweeteners
• Processed foods
• The Pill and HRT
• Antibiotics
Whilst antibiotics are important when our body needs them, these don’t just eliminate the bad ones but the good bacteria too. Taking a good probiotic supplement along antibiotics has shown that the immune system is not weakened further.
Taking a good probiotic is a good start to improve your general health. However, if you eat too much processed foods and sugars, you will do well to adjust your diet to a healthier one. My go to probiotics is the Natures Aid Bio360 range.
