A balanced gut microbiota is critical to health because approximately 90% of the bacteria in the human body reside in the gut. Conversely, an impaired gut microbiota structure and/or activity contributes to the formation of diseases.
The microbiota should be considered as an organ. In particular, the intestinal microbiota in the human body; It is responsible for regulating immune mechanisms.
There are bacteria in our intestines that we can divide into good and bad. The variety of good bacteria in the intestines, which is called the second brain of the body, is also vital for the metabolism of the individual.
The gut microbiota is unique to each individual. Microbiota; geographical origin, genetics, mode of birth, age, lifestyle, nutrition, antibiotic use and past diseases, depending on the factors that the person encounters throughout his life.
One study found that the human diet and microbiota diverged very rapidly. It is characterized by low fiber, high fat, refined carbohydrates and a sedentary lifestyle in high-fat diets, especially Western-style nutrition, and causes a decrease in the density of Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium, which are defined as beneficial bacteria. As the number and diversity of bacteria decreases, the susceptibility of the individual to metabolic diseases and thus obesity increases.
By adding fermented foods to your diet, you can benefit from the bioactive peptides produced during fermentation and the probiotic bacteria found live in foods, and you can accelerate your metabolism by diversifying the beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Some of these fermented foods are;
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Kombucha tea
- Tempeh
- Pickled Cucumbers
- Sauerkraut
While the microbiota is in a close relationship with the food types and diet; It is also in a change in obesity, cancer, diabetes, fatty liver disease, autoimmune diseases and stomach-liver diseases, and such conditions can cause microbiota dysbiosis (deterioration).
Targeting the gut microbiota using probiotics and/or prebiotics has the potential to treat or even prevent disease.
