Gut Health
New Paths to a Healthy Gut
Your gut microbiome is far more complex than generic microbiome tests suggest. Discover how fiber, probiotics, and emerging postbiotics support genuine digestive health.
Gut Health
Your gut microbiome is far more complex than generic microbiome tests suggest. Discover how fiber, probiotics, and emerging postbiotics support genuine digestive health.
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A gurgling in your belly, bloating, diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, constipation, pain, cramps – many people discover that something is off with their gut. As we now all know: the gut microbiome is centrally important! Wouldn't it make sense, then, to first find out who lives there?
Indeed, microbiome tests have become a common tool for people seeking to get to the bottom of their digestive problems. The internet is flooded with providers of detailed tests that promise us (at prices up to 500 euros!) a recipe based on a stool sample, something that goes, somewhat exaggerated, like this:
For a healthy gut microbiome, take 12.58 billion CFU (colony-forming units) of Lactobacillus, 7.49 billion CFU of Bacteroides bacteria, and add a dash of Bifidobacterium longum. Repeat until 24 billion CFU of E. coli bacteria leave your gut. Then enjoy optimal gut health!
Of course, the recipes vary from provider to provider—each has its own secret formula. But what lies behind this variation in interpretations of a healthy microbiome is sobering. To this day, we simply don't know exactly what a healthy gut microbiome looks like. There can be no "too little" or "too much" of a bacterial species because there are no standard values. What is normal and healthy for Person X can look completely different from Person Y. Science shows us only trends in the general effects of certain bacteria and the advantages and disadvantages of settling these residents in our gut. Results about exact, "optimal" ratios do not yet exist.
What we do know: the gut microbiome is highly complex, and the solution likely lies in a highly individualized approach rather than blanket recipes for the ideal bacterial composition. Research worldwide is intensely focused on how we can achieve better health through individually tailored probiotic preparations (Q, Q, Q). So we can look forward to how personalized recommendations based on diagnostic factors will help us achieve better health in the future.
Nevertheless, studies impressively demonstrate how the administration of bacteria (probiotics) in certain applications—such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal infections, or irritable bowel syndrome—can have impressive effects today despite certain knowledge gaps (Q).
One important key to gut health for everyone remains a high-fiber diet that also includes many plant-based foods.
Dietary fiber (prebiotics) is so important for our gut health because it promotes the growth of important bacteria that ferment the fiber. The short-chain fatty acids produced as a metabolic byproduct influence numerous body functions because:
One dietary fiber that deserves special mention is inulin. Abundant in artichokes, parsnips, salsify, leeks, cabbage, and chicory, it serves especially as food for bifidobacteria in the large intestine (Q). The proliferation of these particularly health-promoting bacteria should be the goal for anyone wanting to get their gut in top shape (Q)!
Taking probiotics can be worthwhile. Still, it is currently difficult to predict how many bacteria actually reach the large intestine, where they break down our fiber. So what if you could take the active metabolic products directly?
When it comes to short-chain fatty acids produced by gut bacteria, we're primarily talking about butyric acid (butyrate), propionic acid (propionate), and acetic acid (acetate). And indeed—though human research is still in its infancy—cell and animal studies show very exciting results for administering these fatty acids:
Beyond the well-known prebiotics and probiotics, the targeted intake of bacterial metabolic products (postbiotics) could open entirely new pathways to gut health. So it remains exciting, and we'll keep you up to date, of course! Since we have a hunch about what will emerge, propionic acid is already part of edubily's product range today ;)
