Billions of bacteria lining the intestines. The intestinal microbiota is sometimes nicknamed “the second brain” since it is given a determining role in our health. However, it remains relatively unknown.
“Today we are not able to define a healthy microbiota,” explains Harry Sokiol, a gastroenterologist specializing in inflammatory bowel diseases at the Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris, on BFMTV.
“But in general, if you are in good health, have normal intestinal transit and eat a balanced diet, chances are good that you have a healthy microbiota,” he continues.
“Give Them What They Love”
On the contrary, if it is out of order, the microbiota can cause, in particular, bloating or constipation. So what should you eat, or not eat, to keep your gut microbiota healthy?
“In the microbiota we find bacteria that are going to produce good molecules for our health: they help us with digestion but also with immunity or metabolism,” explains Harry Sokiol.
Thus, “to stimulate these good bacteria, you have to give them what they like,” explains the gastroenterologist.
Fiber and fermented foods
Foods rich in probiotics and fermented foods are particularly popular. We can mention, for example, cheese, yogurt or sauerkraut. So, it is also important to consume vegetables and fruits.
“Our human enzymes are not capable of digesting vegetable fibers, it is the bacteria in our colon that digest them for us and produce a series of extremely beneficial molecules,” specifies Harry Sokiol.
If some people can have a stomach ache after eating an apple, this is proof that the microbiota is working.
harmful products
Other foods are, on the contrary, harmful to our microbiota. First and foremost are antibiotics. “Obviously it is essential and these are probably the most life-saving drugs on the surface of the globe, but it should not be overused because it kills the good bacteria,” said Harry Sokiol.
“Antibiotics are not automatic,” he recalls.
In addition, ultra-processed foods “with all the additives, colorings, emulsifiers, preservatives or sweeteners like sodas” are bad for our microbiota, as is “excess cold cuts and red meats that will favor pro-inflammatory bacteria.”
Little-studied effects of probiotics
According to the specialist, everything that has an effect on us will have an effect on our microbiota. “It is sometimes said that our microbiota is a kind of transmission belt between our environment in a broad sense and our health”, explains Harry Sokiol.
What we eat, the air we breathe, pollution, sports… Without us yet understanding how, all of this can have positive or negative effects on our microbiota.
As for probiotics, these food supplements or drugs intended to stimulate these good intestinal bacteria, “some have shown an effect on health but they are exceptions”, explains the gastroenterologist, adding that the vast majority of products “require more research ”.
Source: BFM TV
