World Digestive Health Day is celebrated on 29 May each year.as proposed by the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO extension for its acronym in English). This has been happening since 2005 and is supported by other related organizations in 110 countries.
The choice of date responds to the fact that on May 29, 1958 the first world congress of gastroenterology ended in Washington and there the creation of the world body that groups the specialty was defined. Much later, in 2004, the plan for a World Digestive Health Day was drawn up and launched a year later.
For each conference, a gastroenterological health theme is chosen, which is developed for twelve months., and then start over. In this way pathologies such as stomach or colon cancer have had their moments of strong prevention campaigns.
Currently, the gut microbiome is becoming more and more relevant. Its cure and the influence it can have on the development of ailments is being researched all over the planet. Therefore, his approach is the main problem in digestive health.
What is the gut microbiome?
Talking about microbiome or microbiota is similar, even if not the same. While the microbiota is the set of microorganisms that permanently inhabit an area of ​​the body, the microbiome is those microorganisms plus the genetic material they possess.
The bacteria regularly live in the intestine, which undergoes minimal modifications under normal conditions, and due to their stability they constitute the flora of the digestive system. When its regularity is lost, disturbances appear that become systemic.
The gut microbiome has been linked to autoimmune diseases, psychiatric disorders and degenerative diseases. Allergies are also an important part of the human balance which is changed by these microorganisms.
On World Digestive Health Day, it’s worth remembering that the microbiome is almost like a personal fingerprint. For each individual, the bacterial composition of the intestine is unique, and represents a seal of its balance with the internal environment and with the external environment.
Changes in lifestyle affect it, as does diet. There is an evolutionary process of these bacteria that accompanies the growth and development of the body.
Three foods to have a good microbiome
On World Digestive Health Day, the emphasis is on digestive health. And a fundamental part of it is the intestinal flora that perseveringly inhabits this area.
What we eat affects the microbiome. Some foods stimulate the controlled growth of beneficial bacteria, while others destroy bacterial colonies, favoring the entry of harmful germs.
Three food options that also protect and stimulate normal intestinal flora are the ones we are going to share with you. The incorporation of these products into the diet will protect us from external agents.
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of dietary fiber. Fiber is a component of food that we do not digest, but which regulates peristalsis, i.e. the movement of the digestive tract.
In addition, these products contain substances considered prebiotics. Prebiotics are a micronutrient that the bacteria in the gut can take to strengthen and develop according to the body’s needs.
The scientific results are interesting with the artichokesfor example, which have been shown to be able to increase the number of bacteria bifid in the intestine. This group of microorganisms is a protector of intestinal health. Also there are copious amounts of prebiotics in lentils, chickpeas, and whole grains.
fermented products
A fermented food is a food that has already partially undergone bacterial digestion. In fermentation, microorganisms take the sugar in the product and convert it into something else, such as alcohol molecules.
Yogurt is the classic example of fermented foods. When you ingest them, your intestines receive a dose of the bacteria present in the substanceand many of them settle in the gut to continue living there.
Not only is yogurt the fermented option for feeding the microbiome, however. He sauerkraut and kefir, typical and widespread foods in some geographical areas, meet the same criteria.
The interior of the small intestine is colonized by bacteria that make up the microbiome.
polyphenols
Polyphenols are components that have increased the volume of scientific studies on their properties. They are found in chocolate, wine, beer, almonds and cranberries.
An adequate dose of polyphenols increases the percentage of bacteria bifid in the intestine, as well as adding cardiovascular protective effects. Anyway, this is not generic, and each alcohol with polyphenols it acts differently in the human body.
World Digestive Health Day with a spotlight on the microscopic
The gut microbiome is microscopic, invisible to the human eye. But these bacteria are now considered part of being human. Thanks to them we acquire digestive stability that allows us to survive.
To take care of them we must follow a balanced and healthy diet that nourishes and stimulates them. There is still much to investigate on this microscopic world, but we already know that its influence on health is decisive.
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