Although sometimes we start to unite the bacteria with negative connotations, the truth is that without them we cannot live.
We all know how important our intestinal flora, but sometimes we do not stop to think about the scope of its operation in our day to day.
So in our section of microbe of the weekToday we are going to talk about all those bacteria that live with us and make our digestions easier and our health, both intestinal and general, much stronger.
What are intestinal bacteria?
The intestinal flora It is composed of a set of bacteria that live in our body, keeping with us a symbiotic relationship so much of mutualism like commensalism.
Most of them not only they are not harmful for our health, but they provide big benefits, as the nutrient absorption from the food we eat and the synthesis of substances as important as vitamin K and some of group B.
I know it is true that some can cause infections in certain situations and others, even being totally innocuous, Give place to unpleasant effects, As the odor stool characteristic.
Finally, these microorganisms are kept in Balance with a bacteria called Clostridium difficile, which is found in the intestine of the 10% of the population. However, it does not usually cause any symptoms, unless the number of beneficial bacteria of the intestinal flora, in that case if it gave rise to infections
How do newborns acquire their own intestinal flora?
When a child is born, his intestine lacks microorganisms, so it is necessary that it be populated as soon as possible, so that they can digest food as it enters their diet and to avoid Digestive diseases.
Therefore, evolution has led to the bacteria present in the her mother’s vagina those that pass into the child’s body at the time of Birth, Thus beginning to populate his intestine.
This is a problem when the birth takes place by cesareanAlthough some studies have shown that the simple contact of the baby’s face with a impregnated gauze of the vaginal microbiota from your mother is enough for your bacterial flora to begin to form.
What happens if a person loses part of his bacterial flora?
Sometimes prolonged treatments with antibiotics or the appearance of some disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome wave Crohn’s disease, can lead to a deterioration of bacterial flora which can further exacerbate the symptoms of these diseases.
Therefore, it is necessary to find a way to repopulate the intestine with new healthy bacteria that facilitate digestion and keep at bay C. difficile.
For this, one of the most innovative, useful and simple methods is the stool transplant of a healthy person. Yes, yes, you read correctly. Admittedly, it sounds a little scatological, but it’s a great way to repopulate damaged bacterial floras.
For this, the feces of a healthy individual and seep, separating the solid phase from the liquid. Afterwards, it will be precisely the latter that will be frozen until the moment of the transplant, which will be carried out in the same way as a conventional colonoscopy.
What are probiotic foods for?
As you know, the probiotic foods, are those that contain microorganisms which are supposedly considered beneficial for our intestinal flora.
There are many scientific studies that try to prove it, although the lack of solidity of its conclusions has led to its continued study, leading to other works, such as one recently carried out by scientists from the University of Copenhagen, which have shown that there does not seem to be no effect in the bacterial flora of healthy people.
S that provide benefits to those who, for the same cases that I mentioned earlier, have their depopulated intestine of this type of bacteria. Therefore, if we are healthy we can take these foods for their taste, but they may not have any kind of consequence on our health.
How can the intestinal bacterial flora act on our brain?
According to a study recently carried out by scientists from the Harvard University, there could be a possible relationship between intestinal bacteria and the prevention of multiple sclerosis.
And it is that, according to the investigations they have carried out, it seems that under a determined diet, these bacteria produce small molecules that travel to the brain, where they act on the astrocytes, blocking the processes of inflammation and preventing neurodegeneration.
This occurs when they are taken diets rich in tryptophan, a amino acid which is present in foods like turkey.
Therefore, although there is still much to investigate, it seems that the modification of the diet and the strengthening of bacterial flora They could serve to prevent this sad disease.
We will remain attentive to the results.
After knowing all this, when you feel alone, think that there are a lot of bacteria that accompany you. And that without them you will be nobody.
