So, what makes a healthy gut? This really comes down to providing a positive environment for the bacteria in our colon to grow. Unlike bad bacteria that cause infection and illness, these bacteria are ‘good’ and their numbers are greater than the amount of cells in the rest of the human body - we are more bacteria than human! This special relationship has evolved to help us absorb nutrients and provide energy for the cells of the gut, which help protect us against disease and infection.
How do we improve gut health? Well, firstly we can consume plenty of fibre rich foods in the diet that these bacteria feed on and allows them to proliferate and increase in number. However, at certain times, it may be beneficial to directly support numbers of these healthy bacteria by consuming them directly in specially designed supplements, which survive digestion and can rapidly increase the amount of good bacteria in the body; these are called probiotics.
Probiotics are gaining popularity in many sports, including bodybuilding, to help increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption, support health against the stress of heavy training and large volumes of food that some athletes require. These are especially useful after periods of illness which may deplete the gut ‘flora’, therefore probiotics can be an effective tool in order to replenish the good bacteria and boost immune function, recovery and restore health.
In summary, current research shows some very positive signs that regardless of health and fitness goals, probiotics can be of some benefit and will certainly do no harm. In particular it seems to be effective for those people who suffer with digestive issues, with probiotics and digestive enzymes being an effective strategy to help reduce bloating, gastro intestinal discomfort and improves nutrient uptake.
Paul Rimmer (BSc, MSc, PhD).
