Intestinal microbiota refers to all the microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract. You know it’s made up of viruses and fungi, among other “beings” besides bacteria.
The tasks performed by it are diverse. These include helping you digest food and take advantage of its micronutrients, but also contributing to a balanced immune system or a healthy gut. It appears to have effects on cognitive function, heart health and cancer risk. Some studies have shown that this may be the key to longevity-Japanese centenarians are characterized by wide variety-.
Conditions such as headache, flatulence after eating, anxiety or even gaining a few extra kilos may arise. dysbiosisor which is the same, a microbiota imbalanceSari Arponen, doctor in biomedical sciences, specialist in internal medicine and expert in microbiota, said earlier.
In short, good health requires a balance of microorganisms in your gut. that you know you can do probiotics“Good” bacteria that live in the large intestine, They are also found naturally in foods such as kimchi, miso soup or yogurt. By taking them you contribute to their spread.
prebiotics They also play a fundamental role. They are a special type of plant fiber that promotes healthy digestion and metabolism. Although the body cannot digest them, they nourish colonies of beneficial bacteria. Garlic, onions, leeks or cranberries are some examples of foods that contain these.
There is also a third one which is less known. it’s about postbioticsa relatively current term to define another Essential components for intestinal health,
What are postbiotics?
In 2019 the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) convened a panel of experts to review the definition and scope of postbiotics.
Published according to the conclusions they reached NatureA Postbiotic is “a preparation of non-living microorganisms and/or their components that provides a health benefit to the host.”, To be effective, he says, “they must contain microbial cells or inactivated cellular components, with or without metabolites, that contribute to the observed health benefits.”
A simple way to explain this is provided by the Harvard Medical Portal. They define this concept as “The waste left after the body digests both prebiotics and probiotics”,
Healthy postbiotics include nutrients like Vitamins B and K, amino acids and substances called antimicrobial peptides Which help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. They say that other postbiotic substances called short-chain fatty acids help healthy bacteria thrive.
What can they do for your health
While probiotics are living microorganisms, postbiotics They are composed of inert components, Gut Microbiota for Health explains, “That is, they can be thought of as a way to directly supply the gut with the same dormant microbial cells that live in the gut.”
This “absence” of life means that when administered They cannot replicate in the intestine, as a living entity can do. Due to which the risk is reduced. —Since the bacteria in probiotics can compete with bacteria already present in the gut.
This characteristic means that postbiotics are positioned as a safe treatment in delicate patients at risk of infection, for example, those with weakened immune systems, and for whom probiotics are prohibited, explains the College of Pharmacists of Barcelona. Are.
“They have little contact with food ingredients and are easy to process, as a result, they achieve a Optimal effect in restoring healthy intestinal ecosystem in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases,” states a review of the study from the University of Valladolid.
Although its effect on the body is still being studied, in terms of benefits, the effect as well as the protective action of the intestinal epithelial barrier comes to the fore. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, insulinotropic, Hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic, summarizes the research.
From Harvard they say you can increase the amount of useful postbiotics in your system with fermented foods, like Kefir, Tempeh and Kimchi, In elDiario.es, Dr. Lorena Calvo, expert in microbiota and nutrigenetics at CRES Clinic, is included in the list Garlic, Onion, Banana or Cooked CheeseTo increase these “without the need to take supplements”.