GUT AND HEALTH
The digestive system is a highly exciting and complex system of our body. Our intestines, in particular, perform far more functions than just absorbing and processing nutrients.
An essential part of the digestive system is our intestine, which can be up to eight metres long. Yet it measures only a few centimetres in diameter. Millions of villi on the mucosal surface of the intestine are responsible for the efficient absorption and utilisation of food, as well as the production of the body's own messenger substances. Villi are leaf-shaped elevations inside the intestinal tube, which has many twists and turns and develops a surface area of 300 to 400 square metres.
WHAT ARE
SYNBIOTICS?
Synbiotics not only have a supportive effect on the immune system, but also have a preventive effect with a potential reduction in susceptibility to disease. They also have an added health value when one is already ill and can contribute to a significantly milder course even in the case of severe illnesses.
They also have an added health value if one is already ill and can also contribute to a significantly milder course of severe diseases.
GUT-BRAIN-AXIS
The gut has its own nervous system that is as complex as our brain. It is therefore called the “gut brain”.
The communication system with which the head and the gut communicate is known as the gut-brain axis. Information is transferred in both directions via nerve pathways, hormones or metabolic products of the intestinal bacteria. For this reason, a healthy and intact intestine is important – both for our nervous system and for our immune system.
MICROBIOME
The gut, with its three parts – small intestine, large intestine and rectum – is responsible for our digestion. Most of the work is done by the microbiome:
The intestine and intestinal wall are colonised by many trillions of tiny microorganisms. The intestinal microbiome consists of the entirety of healthy microorganisms (primarily intestinal bacteria) and their genes or genetic disposition. Other microorganisms include certain yeast fungi, which are important for fermentation processes, viruses and so-called archaea (primitive bacteria). The microbiome, with all its tiny organisms, accounts for up to two kilogrammes of an adult's body weight. More
The bacteria that naturally colonise our intestinal mucosa perform a beneficial, supportive function for the tasks of the intestine. The individual microbiome of each person is as unique as his or her fingerprint. This is because, in addition to predisposition, the lifestyle also has a significant influence on the structure of the microbiome.
Prolonged medical treatments, inflammations, unfavourable nutrition, environmental influences or chronic stress can reduce the number of desirable microorganisms in the gut and promote the growth of unfavourable microorganisms. This condition is called dysbiosis of the gut and is a risk factor for the development of diseases. Less
DYSBIOSIS
Our immune system has to deal with numerous challenges every day. Among other things, stress, poor nutrition, environmental factors or infections can affect the balance of the human organism. In the gut microbiome, this leads to an increase in unfavourable bacterial strains that promote chronic diseases.
Certain prebiotics can promote colonisation with health-promoting bacteria to stabilise the balance. With regular intake of these and accompanying lifestyle changes, this balance remains more resilient and consistent in the face of new challenges.
The most common causes of a disturbed gut microbiome:
OTHER EXCITING FEATURES AROUND THE GUT
The gut immune system
The gut is a complex organ: it grows to a length of up to 8 metres, billions of villi ensure a significant increase in the surface area of the intestinal mucosa. This is necessary to ensure an optimal absorption and processing of nutrients. This makes the gut the largest contact surface of our body with the environment and contributes significantly to the initial defence reactions of our body's own immune system. Up to 80 % of our specialised defence cells are located in our intestinal mucosa. Experts refer to this as GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue) – the lymphatic tissue associated with the intestinal mucosa.
The “gut brain”
The gut also has its own nervous system. Because it is similarly complex to our brain, it is called the “gut brain”. Besides vitamins, also essential hormones are produced in the gut. For example, 70% of the “happiness hormone” serotonin is produced primarily in the gut, which also functions as a nerve messenger and is essential for our good mood and mental well-being.