Microbial imbalance and loss of diversity pose a threat to health

An average person’s body contains about 30 trillion body cells and 39 trillion bacteria. The intestines have the largest number of bacteria and the greatest number of species compared to other parts of the body.

Although more than 1,000 different bacteria species have been found to be present in the human intestines, each individual is thought to harbour only around 200 of them. In other words, there is a striking variation of intestinal bacteria between different individuals as well as different locations across the world.

Intestinal microbial community has been widely recognised as an important influence on overall health as well as a predisposition to disease. It is indispensable for the development and modulation of immune system and inflammation. Besides, specific combination of bacteria in the intestines might help determine how our brain circuits are developed and wired.

Scientists believe that a core set of metabolic and molecular processes contributed by intestinal bacteria are a key to a healthy intestines and overall health. Metabolic processes include digestion, production of vitamins, hormones and essential amino acids etc; while molecular process means total collection of all the bacterial genes that promote their long-term residence in the intestines and active contribution to human metabolic function. Which bacterial species contribute to these processes is less pertinent than how well they are working together. In other words, bacteria that are typically considered “bad” can play an essential role in the body health as long as healthy microbial diversity and proper balance between good and bad bacteria are maintained.

Loss of microbial diversity and microbial imbalance have been linked to a number of health problems such as eczema, asthma, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Diet high in fat and refined sugars but low in fibre is thought to reduce bacterial diversity and alters microbial balance in the intestines. In addition, taking antibiotics, eating processed foods and conventionally-raised animal meats also tend to wipe out colonies of good bacteria in the intestines, which may have remarkable impact on weight and metabolism.

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Fermented Extract in Biogenics 16 can be a helpful, natural approach to restore normal microbial diversity and balance as well as increase total number of body’s own bacteria in the intestines. In brief, a combination of diet rich in fibre, whole, unprocessed and fermented foods along with Biogenics 16 will help optimise intestinal microflora, strengthen immunity and maintain overall health.