According to a general population study conducted by KANTAR on 1,200 Spanish men and women between the ages of 18 and 70, it showed that 9 out of 10 people consider themselves to have “good” digestive health. However, 8 out of 10 reported experiencing digestive symptoms that interfered with their daily health.
Interest in taking care of our diet and digestive health is on the rise. Nine out of ten people consider it important to be aware of their digestive health. In addition, there has been increasing interest in the relationship between digestive health and a balanced gut microbiome. In Spain, searches related to microbes have increased by more than 70% in the last three years (148,100 searches in 2023 compared to 87,600 searches in 2021).
At the scientific level, there are more and more publications that expand and support knowledge about the functions of the microbiota and the paradigm shift involved in the approach to digestive health. However, only 20% of Spanish citizens know exactly what microbes are, 60% have heard of them but do not know exactly what they are, and 20% have never heard the term before.
“The intestinal microbiota is another organ that can influence the overall state of our health, and consists of 39 billion microorganisms (a compendium of bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, yeasts and protozoa) that are present in greater quantity in the body.” The last section of the large intestine. We know more and more about its function and the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced microbiota to take care of our digestive health, but its functions affect distant organs, and other scenarios such as mental health, skin health, respiratory health, and metabolism. Dr. explains. Francisco Guarner, Member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Society of Microbes, Probiotics and Prebiotics (SEMiPyP).
Garner participated in a meeting held at Danone’s Isaac Carasso Research and Development Center in Barcelona, on the occasion of World Digestive Health Day.
Although the balance of intestinal microbiota can depend on several factors – genetic, environmental, lifestyle and stress – food is the main indicator that determines its composition. A diet that can help achieve a healthy balance of microflora should be varied and balanced, rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, and also including foods containing prebiotics and probiotics, such as fermented milk especially with bifidobacteria.
As explained by Dr. Guarner, traditional fermented dairy products, yogurt or kefir, although they have little effect on the composition of the intestinal microbiota, have well-known nutritional effects and their consumption is associated with various health parameters such as reduced tendency to excess weight, or prevention. Of diabetes in adults. However, he points out that “milk fermented with Bifidobacterium lactis affects the composition of the microorganisms and their metabolic activity, and it also has additional effects on gastrointestinal transit and abdominal health, which improves significantly.”
Fermented foods contribute to the balance of microorganisms
Although there has been a boom in the consumption of all types of fermented foods, Danone has been making fermented milk for over 100 years based on research and selection of fermenters that provide unique flavour, texture and health benefits. They are all part of Danone’s range of exclusive yeasts.
As Montse Andreu, responsible for the development and application of fermentations in Danone’s R&D team, pointed out, “There are two types of fermentations: the technological type, which allows us to obtain and modify the sensory properties of food, that is, different flavors and textures; and the probiotic fermentations, which exert their functions on organisms.” Microorganism.
Keys to effective probiotics
Regular consumption of probiotics contributes to adjusting the balance of intestinal microorganisms. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, to balance and maintain a stable intestinal microbiome, must meet three basic requirements to ensure their effectiveness:
- It reaches the intestines alive, and resists stomach and bile secretions
- Let them do it with enough variety
- To arrive in sufficient quantity
“To claim that a probiotic meets these requirements, it is important to prove it scientifically. Not all probiotics are the same, each probiotic strain will have its own characteristics. Activia is the only company that has scientifically proven these three qualities thanks to the CNCM I-2494 strain,” says Antonio Torres, President Danone España Nutrition & Sustainability Department There are more than 20 publications supporting the scientific evidence, including a meta-analysis and review study conducted by SEMiPyP and published last year in the journal Annals of Microbiota, Probiotics & Prebiotics.
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