There are more than 400 different kinds of bacteria that enter the human digestive tract after birth. Over time, they actively multiply.
There are also beneficial microorganisms, such as lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Escherichia coli. They take part in the digestion of carbohydrates and protein foods, help the absorption of vitamins and trace elements. They are also able to suppress the activity of microorganisms that are harmful and greatly strengthen the immune system.
An adult has about 1.5 kilograms of all kinds of microorganisms in the intestines. In order to keep them alive, about 20% of the food that enters the body is wasted.
If a person takes long period of antibiotics, hormones, alcohol, or if he was stressed, kept a diet, the balance of harmful and beneficial bacteria are disturbed. A condition called dysbacteriosis will arise.
The first indicators of dysbacteriosis are a feeling of discomfort inside the stomach, bloating, severe gas, stool disorders. Immunity decreases, a person quickly and heavily fatigued, allergies, avitaminosis are observed.
For a complete recovery of the intestinal flora or to maintain it in a stable state, probiotics and prebiotics are used.
Probiotics are live lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, yeast. They are considered normal inhabitants of the human intestine, are often found in yogurts and other lactic products. They are enough to maintain the required number of beneficial bacteria.
There are cases where the microflora in the intestine is dead or damaged. Then use specially designed preparations containing beneficial microorganisms, which are enough to fully maintain viability.
Prebiotics are substrates that tend to be poorly digested. They are designed to grow and nourish certain classes of beneficial bacteria that populate the large intestine. These nutrients must not be influenced by digestive molecules and must be broken down. For this reason, they contain complex carbohydrates – fiber.
Prebiotics are available in dairy products, garlic, beans, onions, bananas and peas.