Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and bloating are alarm signs that you should take seriously. Stomach problems and intestinal discomfort may indicate deeper-seated health disorders. That is why Asian medicine calls the intestine the seat of health. But modern science also emphasizes again and again how important an intact digestion is for keeping body and mind healthy!
In this article, we explain which three micronutrients you should definitely not do without if you want to do your health a favor in the long run.
Dietary fiber
The consumption of dietary fiber, is essential for a healthy intestine. They are nutritional components found mainly in the cell wall of plants. There they serve as supporting or structural elements. A high intake can help prevent various diseases and should be an integral part of the diet. The German Nutrition Society recommends at least 30 grams of dietary fiber per day for adults as a guideline for daily requirements. These compounds are resistant to digestive enzymes, which is why they cannot be metabolized like carbohydrates. Dietary fiber is found primarily in fruits, vegetables and grains. The latter should be consumed as a whole grain product if possible. Food supplements, for example in the form of powder with a high content of soluble fiber species, are the ideal supplement to a high-fiber diet.
Curcumin
Our second micronutrient to strengthen your gut and digestion is found in turmeric. More precisely, in its most important active ingredients, the curcuminoids. A true milestone for the health importance of turmeric was the confirmation of the former Federal Health Agency (BGA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which concluded that turmeric is useful in the treatment of numerous digestive disorders, including inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and complaints often accompanied by loss of appetite, bloating and nausea. The WHO attributes anti-inflammatory effects to the spice and recommends taking 3 g of the root or corresponding preparations as a daily dose for the treatment of digestive complaints. As an additional helper for a healthy intestine, we recommend black pepper extract. It could be worthwhile to purchase a combination preparation that contains both curcumin extract and black pepper extract.
Lactic acid bacteria (lactobacteria)
Lactic acid bacteria are extremely useful for intact intestinal function. Among other things, they ensure good digestion, a strong immune system and a flawless intestinal mucosa. There are many different species of lactic acid bacteria, which are also called strains. The decisive factor here, in addition to the available quantity of a single strain, is diversity. Multi-strain preparations with lactic acid bacteria cultures from different strains can be used for the targeted supply of lactic acid and bifidobacteria cultures. A daily dose can provide several 10 billion germs capable of reproduction (CFU=colony forming units).
This helps you to have abundant lactic acid bacteria colonizing the intestines, which can then successfully displace harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, such as fungi. At the same time, lactic acid bacteria produce substances with which they fight pathogens. Since lactic acid bacteria form lactic acid for this purpose, this ensures the desired slightly acidic environment in the intestine, in which many harmful bacteria do not feel at home in the first place.