Unlike what others think, not all kinds of bacteria are bad for the health. There are also called good bacteria that are essential to maintaining a healthy gut. Every person has about 100,000 billion living bacteria or viable microbes in their intestines.
These microbes can weigh about 1.5 kilograms in total and are collectively called the microbiome. In this article, I will be giving you a simple explanation of what is a good bacteria for your gut. I will also provide some types of bacteria that are beneficial to the body.
Good Bacteria: Explained
Maintaining a healthy balance of microbiome in the gut can result in healthier digestion and a stronger immune system. Since there are two types of bacteria, namely harmful and good bacteria, it is also essential to determine which kind of bacteria belongs to either of the two.
There are over 1000 unique species of bacteria, as well as 5000 strains. These include the detrimental and beneficial to health. Some of the most famous examples of good bacteria are Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, and Clostridium difficile is a strain of bacteria that can impact your health negatively.
Good Bacteria Is With Us From Birth
The composition of a person’s gut bacteria starts from birth, and it is nurtured within the initial years of life. But the primary factor that can affect its balance is your lifestyle. The environment where you live, the level of stress you experience, and the medications you take can affect the balance of your gut bacteria. The food and beverages you consume and the toxins you are exposed to. To maintain a healthy and well-balanced gut, make sure to watch out for these things to avoid them.
Most people are living a busy lifestyle wherein high levels of stress, wrong choices of food and physical inactivity are the everyday things. These can cause the reduction of good bacteria in the gut, leading to microbiome imbalance. Meanwhile, the right foods for the stomach are kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and other fermented food. Include these in your diet and your gut health will improve significantly.
Aside from these, involving yourself in physical activities can help you to control your weight and encourage the growth of good bacteria in your gut. Getting enough sleep can also help you to avoid the decrease of your good bacteria.
Balancing Your Gut Bacteria
The key to a happy and healthy life is well-balanced gut bacteria. Here are some of the things you need to know to understand your gut’s needs today.
Your Microbiota
The natural microbiota in your body comes with both good and bad bacteria. The most popular species of good bacteria include Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. Bifidobacteria resides in the digestive tract to aid food digestion along with Lactobacillus, which you can obtain from eating fermented foods such as kimchi and yoghurt.
Symptoms Of Microbial Imbalance
Dysbiosis is the term for having an imbalanced population of bacteria in the gut. The signs of having dysbiosis include indigestion, bloating, low energy, reduced immunity, as well as food intolerances. These health issues happen because of the decrease of good bacteria in the digestive tract, weakens its protection from the penetration of pathogenic microbes.
While both harmful and good bacteria are beneficial for the human body, it is essential to keep a balance between the two to avoid health problems. Some of the symptoms of microbial imbalance include skin irritation, upset stomach, diarrhoea, bloating, nausea, and so much more.
Factors Affecting Gut Balance
Conclusion
To summarize, a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut can keep you from protecting you from having health issues that can decrease your quality of life. Now that you have learned the real meaning of good bacteria in the gut, you are now ready to fight the things that can affect its balance.
Take note of the foods and habits that can positively affect your microbiome, including the things that can impose a negative effect on your gut to avoid them. Some of the foods that can help you to improve your gut health include getting enough sleep. Eating fermented foods, taking probiotics supplements, getting enough exercise, and so much more.
