The beneficial friendly bacteria in our body are called “probiotics”. Probiotics are most commonly found in the large intestine. There are 100 trillion, approximately 1.5 kg of beneficial bacteria in the gut of an adult. As Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut. If the gut is sick, the rest of the body is sick too.” Our gut is the most important organ of the immune system.
Probiotics in our intestines are friendly bacteria that strengthen our immunity. These beneficial bacteria, which cover the inner membrane of the intestine, prevent harmful bacteria taken from the mouth from passing through the intestinal wall, thus preventing the occurrence of many diseases.
Normally, 85% of friendly bacteria and 15% of harmful bacteria are in balance in our gut. Today, the ratio of harmful bacteria to beneficial bacteria increases in the case of stress, malnutrition, taking painkillers, frequent travels, especially antibiotics. If harmful bacteria increase in the intestinal inner membrane, the rate of probiotics decreases and intestinal permeability increases. This is called intestinal flora disorder or “Dysbiosis”. Many harmful microorganisms enter through the intestinal wall and cause disease.
These diseases include irritable bowel syndrome, allergy, asthma, eczema, diarrhea, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, fatty liver, and large bowel cancer.
There are even studies showing that the imbalance in our intestinal flora affects our mental health. Today, antibiotics that are used unconsciously, especially in viral upper respiratory tract infections, reduce the rate of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and invite many diseases.
Today, the use of probiotics in the treatment of obesity as an adjunct to diet is increasing rapidly. In addition, its effect on the regulation of the digestive system is important.
It is best to take probiotics in the form of dietary supplements, powders, tablets, capsules. Because it is clear which bacteria are in them and the amount of beneficial bacteria. In addition, such preparations pass through the stomach acid and open in the intestine and show their beneficial activities. It is also healthy to use probiotic yogurts. However, the amount of beneficial bacteria in these yogurts may have decreased due to the long shelf life and cold chain sensitivity. In addition, the number of beneficial bacteria in these yogurts decreases as they pass through the stomach acid.
PREBIOTICS
Prebiotic is the food of the probiotic (beneficial friendly bacteria in the digestive system). Prebiotics enable the growth, activity and proliferation of beneficial friendly bacteria, namely probiotics, in the large intestine. Short-chain fatty acids are formed as a result of the fermentation of prebiotics by beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. Butyric acid, one of the short-chain fatty acids, is very effective in preventing colon cancer.
Prebiotics can be found in powder, tablet form as well as in foods. Prebiotics are also available in the market as a (symbiotic) drug with probiotics. As food, it is mostly found in radiccia, dandelion, onion, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, leek and artichoke. Every prebiotic contains fiber. But not every fiber contains prebiotics.
As a result; Probiotics and Prebiotics are the strongest elements of our immune system. For a healthy life, we should include Probiotics and Prebiotics in our diet as food supplements.
