What does your gut bacteria actually do?

Words JOEL GRACE

We all know by now that taking a probiotic supplement and eating fermented food helps add friendly bacteria to your gut. But have you ever stopped to think why this is so important? One of the reasons your gut health plays such an important role in your overall health has to do with the 100 trillion bacteria that line your intestines. The latest research suggests our gut bacteria strongly influences a wide variety of functions in our body, that up until now we’ve taken for granted. Let’s look at some of the more surprising things your gut bacteria are responsible for.

Your gut bacteria creates B Vitamins

Feeling that 3pm slump in energy and need an instant boost? You may not be hungry; instead, you may be lacking the beneficial bacteria that create B vitamins in your gut. The B vitamins used by our body can come from food sources, or they can be produced by gut bacteria and absorbed via the colon. In fact, many strains of bacteria that are common in the colon are known to synthesise several vitamins for use in the body. The B vitamins produced in your colon are known to be a source of energy and nutrition for both you and your microbiome.

Your gut bacteria creates Serotonin

Ever wondered why we feel strong emotions in our gut? Approximately 95% of one of our ‘happy’ hormones, Serotonin, is created in the gut – even though it is ultimately utilised in your brain! In fact, every known class of brain neurotransmitter can be found in your gut. This is one reason the gut is referred to as your ‘second brain’ because it often feels the emotions we think.

Another reason for the second brain moniker is that your gut has a nervous system all of its own, known as the enteric nervous system. If we cut the nerve that connects your brain and gut, the vagus nerve, your digestive system can still work independently of your primary brain.

Your gut bacteria protects your Immune System

Your gut is continuously exposed to both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. The foods we eat, the surfaces we touch, and the air we breathe all contain good and bad organisms that ultimately end up in our digestive system. As a result, your intestinal immune system needs to maintain a healthy balance between active and suppressive immune responses. And given it’s considered that your gut houses roughly 70% of your immune system, this is a very important balance to achieve. Thankfully, the overgrowth of bad bacteria in your colon is inhibited by the presence of armies of beneficial bacteria, which fight with them for nutrition and crowd out the bad guys. The good bacteria then go on to produce antibodies to pathogenic organisms, furthering the development of strong immunity.

www.sunshinecolonics.com.au