Within the first few months of birth, gut flora undergoes huge changes several times, as different species of bacteria establish and flourish responding to a baby's needs and diet. By the age of 3, the gut microbiome has matured and the majority inhabit the colon. Once established, the normal intestinal microbiome tends to remain relatively stable. Whilst we all share a number of the same species, it is also becoming more widely accepted amongst scientists, that modern day living, stress and diet influence the variations and may have an impact on the composition of the intestinal microflora and our health.
About gut health
At least 1 in 5 of you need a live multi-strain bacteria supplement
Whether you have a particular illness, are feeling stressed, or have recently completed antibiotic treatment, clinical practice shows this can lead to digestive problems. Good health relies on a balanced gut and scientific studies have shown that some multi-strain live multi-strain bacteria supplements can help.
A healthy population of bacteria help to drive many functions
The International Human Microbiome Consortium was set up to identify and study all the microbes living in our body and what purposes they have. Work so far has revealed that the 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in our gut need one another. They play a vital role in shaping our physical development, helping train our immune systems and providing us with the ability to carry out a set of finely tuned chemical reactions to regulate and maintain life – known as metabolic activities. In fact, the discovery of how important this relationship is between good and bad bacteria, is completely transforming the way these researchers are studying human biology.
The importance of taking care of our own internal 'ecosystem'
We are utterly dependent on our internal 'ecosystem' which begins when we are in the womb. The importance of gut microbes and what they are capable of doing falls under the study of metagenomics. This involves looking at collective genomes also known as microorganisms where genetic material is recovered directly from the microorganisms' environment. The most detailed study was published by a European led consortium MetaHIT (Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract) in 2010 who found over 3 million different microbial genes. Whilst each person doesn't have all the microbial genes discovered in their human 'ecosystem or microbiome', we all share a core group and these are responsible for at least 600 biochemical functions and are crucial to the survival of our human ecosystem. It is now much more apparent that we are dependent on our gut flora in regulating our biochemistry and metabolism.
Pathogenic bacteria will lurk in niche places given the space or opportunity - stay balanced
Researchers are now questioning whether modern day living is having a detrimental effect on the ecology of our microbiome. With obesity, IBS, diabetes, some cancers and autoimmune diseases increasing within western cultures, perhaps this is the case.
It's also widely known that the overuse of antibiotics severely compromise gut flora as well as becoming resistant to illness. Whilst over time, gut flora can build back up, for many people in the western world, poor diet and stress has an effect. The ecology or natural balance of our gut microbiome struggles and is weakened displaying as digestive symptoms, needing some additional help. This can be achieved by replenishing and keeping the gut balanced with a live multi strain bacteria formula to support digestive maintenance.
