18/07/2024
Alright, so I wasn't going to ridiculously long post here but tech and my brain aren't working today so to hell with it!! I am going to share why I personally don't recommend taking a 'probiotic' supplement if your gut health is a bit off!
Probiotics (those 'friendly, good' bacteria we often hear about) have to quite literally run the gauntlet before they can attempt to do any good in our guts.
First major task is to survive the acidic onslaught of our stomach. With pH levels around 1.5 to 3.5, our stomach is designed to obliterate harmful invaders, and for probiotics, it's like stepping into a battlefield where few survive.
But let's say they do make it past the stomach - congrats, little guys! 🦠 Next, they encounter digestive enzymes and bile salts in the small intestine, another set of challenges that can deactivate many of them. And if they somehow manage to navigate all the way to large intestine, they then face the ultimate test! Your existing gut microbiota.
Good or bad, our intestines are already teeming with a complex community of bacteria that don’t take kindly to new competitors muscling in on their turf. If they don't make it then they might just pass through your digestive system without taking up residence, ending up being... well, 💩
There are some probiotics that thanks to specially designed capsules are offer some protection against stomach acids and alike. These capsules act like armoured vehicles, increasing the chances of probiotics reaching the gut alive. But even with these high-tech defences, it’s not guaranteed that the probiotics will colonise the gut successfully or outcompete the established microbial residents.
So, what’s a better way to ensure a healthier gut?
Focus on feeding the bacteria that are already there!
This is where dietary fibre comes in.
Fibre acts as a prebiotic, essentially food for your gut bacteria, encouraging the growth of beneficial microbes. By boosting your fibre intake, you create a more hospitable environment for the good gut bacteria, potentially making any probiotics you then take more effective.
So, while probiotics have their merits, they face numerous challenges to make a significant impact on your gut health. Prioritising a fibre-rich diet might be a more reliable way to enhance your gut biome!
More info on this coming...but you know the drill - Comment 'GUT' if you want to chat more
