[toc]

The human gut flora

Bacteria in our gut flora are of tremendous importance for our digestion. The human gut is colonised by hundreds of trillions of bacteria. There are as many bacteria as there are cells in the whole human body (>100 Trillion (1014)).

“The human body contains as many bacteria as the whole human cells

A well balanced, healthy intestinal gut flora is the basis for a healthy digestion and our general wellbeing. Bacteria in our gut flora digest dietary fibre and polyphenols, help to absorb minerals and produce vitamins, short-chain fatty acids and amino acids in our intestines.

“Digestion of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is
positively influenced by
a healthy gut flora”

Why “gut flora”?

Besides bacteria, yeasts can often be found in the human gut flora. The tree of life comprises seven different biologic kingdoms. In the past, bacteria and yeasts were thought to belong to the plant kingdom and were called “flora”. Only later did it become clear that bacteria and yeasts belonged to other biologic kingdoms, called bacteria and fungi. However, today we still use the term “gut flora” for the microorganisms that reside in our gut.

“For a long time bacteria and yeasts were thought to belong
to the plant kingdom and were called “flora”.
Until today this term is used for our gut flora”

Some numbers

Worldwide, more than 36,000 different bacterial species have been identified to reside in the human gut flora. The human gut flora of an average adult human individual consists of 500 to 1000 different bacterial species. However, these bacterial species can greatly differ between individuals.

“Every person has 500 to 1000 different types of intestinal bacteria in his/her gut”

Gut flora composition

The colonisation of intestinal microorganisms is markedly less pronounced in the small intestine than in the large intestine. There are also other bacteria species are found in the small and large intestine, but there are overlaps.

The gut consists mainly of normal physiological bacteria that are part of a healthy gut flora. Their relative proportion depends on which bacteria we receive at birth, our genes, our lifestyle, and our diet. The composition of the human gut flora is quite dynamic and strongly depends on your diet.

“The composition of the human gut flora is dynamic and depends on what we eat”

Development and composition of the human gut flora

To understand why the bacterial species and their relative proportion can greatly differ between individuals, it is important to understand how the gut flora develops.

Before birth, the gut of the newborn is sterile. During childbirth, the microbial colonisation of the child’s gut starts as it receives bacteria, mainly from the vagina and skin of the mother. Afterwards, more bacteria are inherited by contact with the environment, via the oral route (mouth). Within only a couple of weeks the baby´s intestines are colonised by hundreds of different bacteria species and a physiological balance between these different gut bacteria develops.

Good and bad gut bacteria

In a healthy gut flora there is a physiological balance between different microorganisms. This physiological balance is called “eubiosis” and allows good intestinal function and a healthy digestion. In a healthy gut there are mainly normal physiological bacteria that are also called the “good bacteria” and some “bad” bacteria. Some events can change a healthy gut flora in a way that the physiological balance of the gut bacteria is disrupted and cause damage to the gut flora, leading to a disbalanced or a damaged gut flora.

“In a healthy gut flora is a physiological balance
between “good bacteria” and “bad bacteria”

For example, intestinal infections with (“bad”) pathogenic microorganisms can result in a disbalanced gut flora. Also, antibiotics can harm bacteria of our gut flora. If certain bacterial strains are made extinct by antibiotics, the composition of the gut flora becomes disbalanced or might become damaged forever. A disbalanced or a damaged gut flora can lead to gut flora related health issues.

The good news is that a disbalanced or damaged gut flora can be restored by the use of the right probiotic products. If you want to perform a gut restoration yourself, you can visit the website www.gutrestoration.com. On this website, you will find 30 DAYS GUT RESTORATION PROGRAMs for gut restoration, that exactly use these probiotic strains that have shown substantial beneficial effects in the treatment of certain gut flora related health issues in clinical trials.

Probiotics

Probiotics (from Latin for and Greek life) are preparations containing living or viable microorganisms. Probiotics usually consist of bacteria or products thereof. By consuming probiotic bacteria and fermented foods you can restore a disbalanced or damaged gut flora.

Probiotic bacteria from probiotic products and fermented foods are able to colonise your gut, can change the composition of your gut flora sustainably, and can restore a disbalanced or damaged gut flora. Rebuilding your gut flora can greatly improve your specific gut flora related health issue.

If you want to know more about probiotics, read more here