Probiotics

It is already known that an unbalanced intestinal flora plays a role in the development of diseases. In addition to a healthy, balanced diet, sufficient exercise and stress avoidance, the use of medically relevant probiotics is recommended to restore the balance in the intestine. Through the supply of viable, probiotic intestinal bacteria, our own "good" intestinal bacteria receive reinforcement. The naturally occurring lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in our intestines are passed on to us from our mothers at birth. This takes place either during natural birth from the vaginal mucosa or via breast milk.

In the intestine, monosaccharides and polysaccharides (so-called oligosaccharides) from breast milk or baby food are converted into lactic acid by probiotic bacteria, thus acidifying the intestine and making it more difficult for harmful bacteria to settle there. Lactobacilli also consume the oxygen that enters through the intestinal wall. This is important because most intestinal bacteria need an oxygen-free environment to fulfil their function. Bifidobacteria produce important short-chain fatty acids, which serve as a natural nutrient for other probiotic bacteria and as an energy supplier for the intestinal cells, thus strengthening the intestinal barrier. In addition, the release of the short-chain fatty acids lowers the pH value in the intestinal ecosystem and thus also suppresses the overgrowth of pathogenic germs.

There are a variety of different specific probiotic bacteria that cause detectable, positive effects in the human intestine: For example, some bacteria are used to treat diarrhoea (e.g. during antibiotic administration), while others help to reduce inflammation or produce vitamins. In scientific studies, specially developed, medically relevant probiotics led to the improvement of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or neurological and neurodegenerative diseases such as depression or Alzheimer's disease.