When you hear the words beneficial bacteria human body, what first comes to mind? The gut? Yes, you are right.  The stomach is famous nowadays. Little friends and occupants of bowels share some fame too.

You would think about what is disgusting. Not for me because I saw plenty of animal guts. Besides it, I experienced the benefits of a well-behaving microbiome, and  I was punished when I spoiled them.

What do I mean? Trader Joe’s Belgian chocolate, croissants, and plenty of bread from the bakery do not feel cozy in my gut. Why? Until now, I learned that enjoying these goodies in moderation is better, with very little restraint.

You would think, who cares about this bacteria? You would watch if you dug into this fascinating world.

I think about bacteria in the gut of individuals with character and the need to be told how to behave. If we did not control what we eat and care for our bodies, we would experience rebelling and turmoil from the microbiome.

Gut bacteria help digest and absorb food, keep the brain happy, lose weight, keep the immune system in shape, reverse allergies, and help with children’s growth and development

Foods’s influence

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I knew that we are what we eat. It is right in every area of interaction with food. Researchers found out that gut bacteria can ferment fiber. From fiber, metabolites called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced.

Interestingly, insulin-producing cells can sense SCFAs in the gut. It seems that these cells like it. Insulin secretion increases when SCFAs are abundant in the body.

What has it shared with the food? Oral probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and fiber intake nourish SCFAs-producing bacteria. The fermentation increases, and it leads to SCFA production.

According to scientists Jack Gilbert, Ph.D. and Rob Knight, Ph.D., the adaptation of diet and the usage of probiotics can make a difference in insulin secretion. It means less diabetes and more happy individuals.

The impact of beneficial bacteria on the human body

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Microbes in the gut are responsible for our well-being. It means that  beneficial bacteria can

•    affect mental health
•   help lose weight
•  boost  and shape the immune system
•   affect growth and development in children
•  improve digestion and absorption of food
•  reverse allergies
•  reduce ear infections
•  help with diarrhea
•  control the child’s weight after changing the microbiome
•  lower levels of  chemical bisphenol A called BPA
• help deal with depression

These benefits are just a part of the bigger picture. Why? Because scientists continuously find something exciting about gut bacteria. They see connections between the gut and the brain. They see microbiome involvement in celiac disease and diabetes.

Conclusion

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It is okay to be exposed to the dirt. It is especially essential for babies and children. Microbes allow the body to strengthen the immune system and be healthy inside the gut.  The sterile environment is harmful because we do not learn how to protect ourselves from invaders. The body becomes resistant to foes and invaders due to contact with dirt. Children who have contact with dogs, play outside, and roll in the meadow or dig the soil do not become sick.

According to Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight, both are Ph.D., the dirt is good.

Do you have any thoughts? Please leave a comment below. I would be glad to answer.

Update from the source of McGill University

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There is some excellent news about the benefits of bacteria in the gut. Scientists made the study with fruit flies. Do you know these disappointing creatures which pop from nowhere and quadruple every minute? These flies were fed with a combination of probiotics and an herbal supplement called Triphala. They found out that flies longevity increased by sixty percent, and protection from chronic diseases associated with aging was remarkable.

Satya Prakash, the professor of biomedical engineering in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and senior author of the study, emphasizes the importance of microbiome health to the whole human body. Foods are metabolized better and more efficiently in the gut, thanks to the influence of probiotics.

You know that there is a connection between the gut and the brain. It is called the gut-brain axis. Brain activity depends on the quality of the microbiome. If we have healthy bacteria in the stomach, we do not experience irritable bowel syndrome, neurodegeneration, or depression.

Fruit flies have similarities with mammals at seventy percent regarding their biochemical pathways. There is a suggestion that a diet with antibiotics can benefit from a healthy and long life. Sounds nice.