Aiming for Gut Microbiota Diversity! What makes gut bacteria happy makes the mind and body happy.

Gut bacteriaabout

I thought I had written about it, so I looked back at my past articles, but

I hadn't yet!

So, today's topic is "About gut bacteria".

The ideal gut microbiota is unknown; it is a unique organ that everyone possesses

Over 1,000 species of gut bacteria (also called gut microbiota or gut flora) live in our large intestines,

with as many as 100 trillion inhabiting them.

That number is 10 times the number of cells that make up our body! That's an amazing number.

They weigh about 1-2 kg.

Looking at the 2 kg bag of flour that arrived the other day, I suddenly

found myself staring at it, thinking about how much is inside my stomach.

That's quite a lot, isn't it!

The host and the bacteria exist in a

mutually beneficial special relationship,

and are currently even considered to be a single organ.

Your own unique ecosystem makes up this system, so

the "ideal" gut microbiota is still unknown.

What do gut bacteria do?

The roles include

and others have been clarified to date.

What does it mean to improve gut health or the intestinal environment?

Gut health seems to be something everyone is doing these days (or is it just me who feels that way?)

In other words, improving the intestinal environment right?

But what exactly is the goal when we pursue this?

Of course, this is also important.

However, what is being said now is,

is what it is all about.

For example,

The famous good bacteria, "lactic acid bacteria", make up less than 1% of the gut ecosystem.

Of course, they have an important role, and I am not saying they are not important, but

it does not seem to be as simple as just increasing good bacteria.

It is becoming important for us to view gut bacteria from a broader perspective.

Diversity is important

When diversity is lacking

It is becoming clear that these are linked to such conditions.

I am sure that as research progresses, more will be revealed.

Factors affecting diversity

So, what affects the diversity of our gut bacteria?

How you were born and raised has a major impact, and at the same time,

what you eat and consume has a significant effect on diversity.

To improve gut microbiota diversity

To summarize briefly, it is as follows.

This is the most important part, so let's look at it in detail.

Prebiotics

These are food for gut bacteria.Do not confuse them with probiotics.

Examples: Inulin, oligosaccharides, etc.

Diet

A diet centered on vegetables, fruits, and grains rich in dietary fiber and a wide variety of foods is ideal for gut bacteria.

Aim to eat a rainbow of vegetables and fruits!

Environment

Living in the countryside is ideal, but not everyone can do that, right?

So, organic gardening or renting a small farm plot also makes gut bacteria happy.

If that is also difficult, why not start with a little bit of gardening?

Playing in the dirt is very good. It's good for the mind, too, isn't it?

Moderate exercise

Not exercising is bad, but

extreme exercise is just as bad for gut bacteria.

Moderate exercise makes not only your mind and body, but even your bacteria healthy!

Probiotics and fermented foods

You might think, why not just eat bacteria or take supplements for a quick fix?

I'm sure you do.

However, this only leads to a temporary improvement in diversity.

I can almost hear you saying, "What?"

Fermented foods, which are a traditional part of our country's diet,

seem to provide not only beneficial bacteria but also the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Therefore, I think you should actively eat them.

Also, you tend to eat fermented foods in small amounts every day, don't you? (Like pickles or miso)

So, in that sense, they seem to have a sustainable effect.

Fermented foods and supplements are

ideal for targeted treatments.

What this means is,

Therefore,

it could be said that taking them indiscriminately might not be harmful, but it might not be very effective either.

To improve the diversity of the gut bacteria that reside in you long-term,

I believe that daily meals are ultimately the most important thing.

Finally,

a "diet and lifestyle that makes gut bacteria happy"is

something that I think can also be calleda "lifestyle that makes our body and mind happy.".

Although not mentioned above,the fact that stress affects the gut environmentis

well known.

In the end,a diet and lifestyle that protects basic health

is also important for the gut environmentis something I am reminded of once again.

Thank you so much for reading until the end!

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