Everything you need to know about probiotics with Dr Mukhtarov
The most important thing:
- Probiotics are the ‘good bacteria’ in the body;
- Why are they so important for the vital processes in our body?
- When is the balance disturbed and potentially harmful bacteria can prevail?
- How to choose a quality probiotic and when is it recommended to take this type of product?
Probiotics can not only strengthen the health of the gastrointestinal tract but also improve a number of important vital processes in the human body, including the absorption of vitamins and the functioning of our immune system. For several decades now, scientists around the world have been discovering new facts about how probiotics can help our metabolism and protect us from dangerous pathogens, allowing us to enjoy better health.
What are probiotics, when should we use them, and what exactly are their health benefits? Dr Marin Mukhtariev, a gastroenterologist who completed endoscopic training at the Academisch Medisch Centrum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, spoke on this topic on the television programme Kod Health. Dr Mukhtarov obtained his doctorate from the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Sofia. He has participated in numerous scientific forums and is the author and co-author of more than 30 publications in Bulgarian and international publications. Since 2008, he has been working in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Multiprofessional Hospital in Kardzhali.
What are probiotics?
- Various types of live microorganisms;
- In the human body, they are an important part of the gut microbiota;
- They maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria;
- They protect against stomach and other problems.
“Probiotics can be used both as a preventative measure and as a treatment for certain illnesses,“ says Dr Mukhtarov.
But to understand the potential of probiotics for human health, one must first understand what the gut microbiota is. Also known as gut microflora, it is the collection of all the microorganisms that live in the human gastrointestinal tract. It is unique to each of us, for example, just like a fingerprint. At birth, we inherit the gut microbiota from our mother, and over the next three years of life, it becomes individualised.
Gut microbiota and probiotics
“The human body is in constant contact with a multitude of microorganisms. These microorganisms are found in different ecosystems – they are present in the nasopharynx and lungs, in the urinary and reproductive systems, but most of them are in the gastrointestinal tract,“ explains Dr Marin Mukhtarov
. The microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract are called the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota consists of bacteria, protozoa and non-pathogenic viruses – they coexist peacefully with one another. Dr Mukhtarov shares an interesting fact: the number of microorganisms inhabiting the human body is several times greater than the number of cells in the body itself! To have a healthy and well-functioning microbiota, all these microorganisms must exist in balance. It is important to know that in every person’s gastrointestinal tract, there are not only beneficial but also potentially harmful bacteria and fungi. If one of the two groups begins to multiply uncontrollably and become dominant, our microbiota will no longer function correctly. This delicate balance can be disrupted by a number of factors, with the use of antibiotics often being to blame. Stress, smoking and an unhealthy diet can also have a negative impact on the human microbiota.
The importance of the gut microbiota for our health
Everyone knows that our stomach and intestines absorb the nutrients from the food we eat. In fact, one of the main functions of our microbiota is related to the complete absorption of nutrients. Thanks to it, our body absorbs vitamins from B to K. A healthy microbiota is a prerequisite for good metabolism and influences whether a person is slim or overweight. It has been established that the bacterial strains in the bodies of slim and overweight people are different.
However, nutrient absorption is just one of the many important functions this collection of microorganisms performs. Here are some of the others:
- The gut microbiota is an important part of the immune system and helps the body defend itself against various pathogens.
- It is important for the proper functioning and health of the liver;
- It is connected to the brain. Medicine continues to explore the possibilities of regulating the gut microbiota to influence certain diseases of the central nervous system (1).
When were the benefits of probiotics discovered?
For thousands, or even tens of thousands, of years, people have observed the beneficial effects of fermented foods. Today, there is a convenient way to take probiotics – for example, B-Protekt, which provides several different strains of beneficial bacteria and a combination of vitamins in a single daily capsule.
In fact, the first scientist to highlight the immense importance of probiotics was Nobel laureate Elie Metchnikoff. And what exactly drew the Russian biologist’s attention to these microorganisms that are so valuable to humans?
The answer is Bulgarian yoghurt.
Ilya Ilyich Metchnikoff himself suffered from chronic health problems and, while searching for a cure, became interested in the diet of the Bulgarians, who at the time were known for their longevity. Metchnikoff attributed this to the consumption of Bulgarian yoghurt and, more specifically, to the Bulgarian bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The scientist theorised that the processes of decay in the large intestine, caused by harmful microbes, were the main cause of most diseases and premature ageing.
Probiotics and prebiotics – how do they work together?
Simply put, prebiotics are a food source for probiotics. The good bacteria feed on prebiotics. That is why it is best to choose combined products called synbiotics.
B-Protekt is precisely such a combination. B-Protekt contains five probiotic strains, three of which are from the Lactobacilli group,” explains Dr Mukhtarov. Additionally, the prebiotics inulin and pectin have been added, which create a favourable environment for the bacteria to multiply. B-Protekt also contains vitamins that further support a healthy immune system. These are vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin D.
How to choose a quality probiotic?
Different probiotic strains are targeted at specific problems. There are probiotics with a specific effect on stomach disorders caused by taking antibiotics. Others are particularly suitable for people with ulcerative colitis. Probiotics that help with wind and bloating have a different composition. (2) Therefore, it would be useful to consult your doctor, who can prescribe the most effective probiotic for your condition.
Foods that are beneficial for the gut microbiota
What is the main factor for maintaining a healthy microbiota? The way we eat is considered to be of the utmost importance. (3)
It is a good idea to take a probiotic if you need to be treated with antibiotics. According to Dr Marin Mukhtarov, probiotics also help to protect us from serious illnesses when we travel, should we become infected with a virus or bacteria.
However, what we eat throughout the year is also important for keeping the good bacteria in our body in good condition. Processed food, sugar and alcohol have been proven to disrupt our microbiota, causing frequent bloating, gas, lethargy and fatigue, as well as a weakened immune system.
It is therefore a good idea to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible and to regularly include fermented foods, such as pickles, on the table.
And, of course, natural Bulgarian yoghurt.
