Our immune system is the protector of our health. It protects us from what does not belong to us, accepts or rejects what is imposed on it: viruses, transplants, food, etc. But did you know that 80% of this system is in our intestine? The intestine is far from being just a digestion pipe; on the contrary, it has even been described as a "second brain". A poorly maintained digestive tract is the source of many ailments. Serious or less serious, they are always disturbing: constipation, diarrhea, bloating... but a bad intestine will make you much more vulnerable to infectious and inflammatory diseases, because your immune system will be weakened.
The proper functioning of the immune system is strongly influenced by the state of the intestinal flora
This one, located in the mucous membrane of the colon, is composed of 100,000 billion bacteria of several hundred different species. An adult has about 1.5kg of intestinal bacteria! This microbial ecosystem is called microbiota. It is vital to our health. The intestinal flora is not something innate, that is to say that we do not have it at birth. It is established from the first months of life, by contact with the surrounding bacteria, and, at two years of age, each child has an "adult" microbiota. This normally remains more or less stable throughout life, renewing itself and becoming more fragile with age or external aggressions. These billions of bacteria have several major functions: they break down food compounds, allow proper assimilation of nutrients, synthesize vitamins of the B and K groups, allow the development and renewal of the digestive tract and, above all, ensure a defensive role.
In fact, they act as an antimicrobial barrier by preventing the implantation of harmful bacteria and interact with the cells of the immune system to obtain a better response. It is in this sense that the hygienist theory deplores the total aseptization in childhood that would inevitably generate diseases in adulthood.
It is therefore particularly obvious and important to be attentive to our intestines, to what we ingest and to our digestion. A good balance allows the whole body to function optimally.
Bad food or chewing, antibiotics, stress, alcohol... are all factors that destabilize and attack the intestinal flora. When dysbiosis sets in, different symptoms appear (constipation, fatigue, diarrhea). The organism will progressively overload itself with foreign elements that will disrupt the internal balance. Bacteria, germs, fungi, yeast and other undesirable parasites will then proliferate and create various disorders. This is how candida albicans, for example, which is naturally present in the intestine and normally controlled by our good bacteria, will gain ground, produce toxins that weaken the immune system and increase the permeability of the mucous membrane, causing many undesirable substances to enter the bloodstream.
To strengthen and maintain an intestinal flora worthy of the greatest armies, it is necessary to favor bacteria "favorable to life": probiotics. Lacto-fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kefir kimchi or miso, are excellent sources of probiotics. Prebiotics should not be left out either. Naturally present in certain foods such as crucifers, seasonal fruits, garlic, onions or asparagus, among many others, they are fibers that are not digested by our enzymes. As a result, they are found intact in the digestive system where they serve as fuel for the probiotics, promoting their growth and effectiveness.