Your gut is your first line of defence.

The army in your gut.

• The bacteria in your gut do things your body is not equipped to do. They contain twice the number of genes found in your own DNA.
• Those extra genes carry the code for many enzymes that you don’t have. Enzymes that are essential for a number of functions.
• These million colonies do more things beyond your gut.

• Digestion

  A lot of the food you eat is digested by the enzymes produced by the good bacteria in your gut. They turn it into energy your body can use. Most carbohydrate-rich foods that your body cannot process are a feast for the bacteria in your gut. They are chewed up and transformed into Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) molecules. These pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream and help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance, especially in people with diabetes or insulin resistance. SCFA's are the main source of energy for your intestinal cells, and they provide approximately 10% of our daily caloric requirements.

• Immunity

  Your gut is a critical barrier between you and the pathogens that manage to enter your body. It is also the headquarters for immune activity and the factory for producing antimicrobial proteins. Studies have shown that the presence of gut microbes is essential to the proper functioning of white blood cells like neutrophils that help your immune system fight infections and heal injuries. Some bacteria even play a pivotal role in ensuring that your gut has adequate numbers of cells like Antigen Presenting Cells that protect your body against infections *.

• Protection against pathogens

  Good bacteria take up space and nutrients available in your gut, making it difficult for bad bacteria to thrive. Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG is the good bacteria that colonise the environment in your gut, giving the bad bacteria no option but to get out and stay out. This probiotic strain is used for potentially treating diarrhoea, relieving IBS symptoms, and strengthening your gut. It may also protect against cavities and UTIs.

• Brain function

  Many chemicals that regulate your moods and emotions are produced by your gut microbiome. It also responds to stress signals sent by your brain. Your gut and brain are connected by nerve cells and neurotransmitters through the vagus nerve. This nexus is called the Gut-Brain Axis. This is a two-way highway through which your gut and brain are able to communicate. Stress can send signals to your gut that cause gastrointestinal issues. Neurotransmitters made in your gut can reach your brain and affect how you feel. More than 90% of the neurotransmitter serotonin that affects your mood, sleep and digestion is made by your gut bacteria. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps control feelings of fear and anxiety, is also produced by the good bugs.

• Metabolism

  The gut microbiome complements the activity of the enzymes from your liver and gut lining. It also plays a vital role in the metabolism of bile acids, proteins, fibres and carbohydrates that you consume. The metabolic activities of the bacteria in your gut are as diverse as the species found there. Research has revealed that strains of the bacteria Bacteroidetes suppress the production of a hormone that helps the body store fat. They also reduce the production of an enzyme that stops the body from burning fat. Strains like Clostridia have been found to play a role in regulating glucose and insulin sensitivity. So, an imbalance in their numbers can lead to the development of metabolic diseases like diabetes.