Healthy gut flora, healthy person
The entirety of all bacteria living in our gut is called intestinal microbiota. The bacterial composition of the intestinal microbiota plays a decisive role in overall health. A balanced microbiota protects us against pathogens and stabilizes the immune system. In addition, intestinal bacteria have the ability to further digest food ingredients, thus contributing to the optimal exploitation of the ingested nutrients. Nutrition plays an important role in the composition of the microbiota. Therefore, a balanced nutrition is the basic precondition for a balanced microbiota.
A shift of the bacterial equilibrium may influence the development of inflammatory factors. In the worst case, this may lead to intolerances of certain nutrients right up to chronic enteropathies. Antibiotic treatments, bacterial or viral intestinal infections or chronic disease processes may trigger these negative influences on the microbiota. To treat these diseases, often a nutritional therapy is launched, too. In addition, a combination of probiotic preparations, i.e. living microorganisms, may influence positively the therapy.
Can exercise and nutrition influence the composition of gut flora?
In our clinical and scientific focus areas, we additionally study the influence of a nutritional and exercise therapy on the composition of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, we analyze possible influences of the intestinal microbiota on immunological, hormonal, and metabolic parameters as well as on the disease process. It is now possible to determine differentially the composition of intestinal bacteria by analyzing the intestinal microbiota via modern DNA sequencing techniques.
However, there is so far no exact knowledge which intestinal bacteria are necessary for a healthy gut flora resp. which microorganisms are responsible for the disease pathogenesis. In addition, we lack exact data so far on the question which form of nutrition promotes in the different diseases a balanced intestinal microbiota.