The Buyt Desk
A healthy gut is prime for complete wellness. Here is a glimpse of the status of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in India. According to a survey by Abbott, 22% of the population suffers from constipation. Approximately 1.5 million Indians suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With changing lifestyles and environmental conditions, India is witnessing an increase in gut problems. It is high time to pay attention to your gut.
What are prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics?
You may be familiar with terms like prebiotics or probiotics. Recent research, however, has brought to the limelight postbiotics. The difference between these terms is simple. Probiotics are essentially the good bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics are supplements or foods that establish or strengthen the population of good bacteria in your stomach. They are food that probiotics consume.
Postbiotics are compounds that good gut bacteria release after consuming and metabolizing prebiotics. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), cell surface proteins, vitamins K and B, amino acids, organic acids, peptides, and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are postbiotics. Though waste from your gut bacteria, postbiotics have many benefits. They strengthen the immune system, prevent inflammation, improve skin and hair quality, cure obesity, lower cholesterol, etc. In the following section, you can understand the positive effects of postbiotics on the digestive tract.
How Do Postbiotics Improve Your Gut Health?
Fixing the leaky gut
The origin of most of the FGIDs is a leaky gut. When the gut lining becomes permeable, inflammation and infections begin in the body. The most frightening result is cancer. Dr. Naveen Polavarapu, Gastroenterologist and Transplant Hepatologist at Apollo Hospital, labels leaky gut as a misdiagnosed silent killer. Butyrate, an SCFA, can heal the increased permeability of the gut. It is the feed of the intestinal cells. Hence, treatment with butyrate strengthens the gut lining.
Preventing diabetes
One in six diabetic patients in the world belongs to India. Managing Life with diabetes is challenging. Diabetes can have grave consequences. Insulin resistance causes diabetes. A postbiotic bacterial fragment, muramyl dipeptide, can increase insulin sensitivity and restore glucose metabolism. It shows promise in treating pre-diabetic patients. Also, the influence of postbiotics in restoring glucose balance can prevent obesity.
Treating diarrhea
More good bacteria in the gut, better the gut health. Postbiotics do not have a direct mechanism to treat diarrhea. Instead, their modulation of the bacterial population in the stomach plays a role. EPS postbiotic, from lactic acid bacteria, promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Consequently, diarrhea stops.
Reducing Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease has become a concern with more cases among 22-40 years old young adults. Around 20 to 50% of consultations with gut specialist doctors relate to IBD. SCFAs like butyrate improves the symptoms of IBD. It activates the immune cells that reduce inflammation.
Most fermented foods contain postbiotics. Yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, kefir, soft cheeses, buttermilk, pickles, and sourdough bread are sources of postbiotics. Add them to your diet and experience a healthier gut.
