It is not often talked about and for most people it is a tricky, shameful topic: intestinal health . But we think that is completely unjustified - because our general well-being is heavily dependent on our intestinal health. That is why we want to approach the whole thing with a bit of humor, because humor can never hurt! :)
We uncover the biggest myths about gut health for you.
Myth No. 1: Only older people need to take care of their intestinal health.
No. In our opinion, this is probably the most painful but also the most widespread myth. What is behind it?
The myth that only older people should actively look after their colon health probably comes from the fact that most cases of colon cancer only occur in old age. This is why men and women over 50 in Germany are recommended to have regular colonoscopy as part of the statutory early detection program. It is rare to hear of significantly younger people being affected.
However, as a study in 2017 (published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute) showed, those born after 1990 have almost twice the risk of colon cancer as their parents. The study cannot explain the causes in more detail, but known risk factors for colon cancer include a diet low in fiber (and therefore too little food for the probiotic bacteria cultures in our intestines), frequent consumption of processed red meat, high alcohol consumption and smoking. But we lay the foundations for a healthy, happy and long life in our younger years, so intestinal health definitely deserves our attention at an earlier age.
Myth No. 2: The intestine is just the human drain pipe.
Absolutely wrong. Quite the opposite: the intestine is the engine of our life. Divided into the large and small intestine, it is not only responsible for digestion, but also contains around 70% of the body's immune cells. This alone shows that the intestine is anything but a drainpipe. In addition, the so-called gut- brain axis is being studied more and more and new connections are constantly being discovered. In addition, our intestines are home to trillions of microorganisms, i.e. living bacterial strains that together form our intestinal flora. The intestine has absolutely nothing in common with a drainpipe.
Myth No. 3: I can’t influence my intestinal flora.
Wrong. The intestinal flora is one of the health levers that we can influence and manipulate best, most directly and most easily. Even the sufficient presence of certain bacterial strains in our intestinal flora can bring significant health benefits. And we can definitely influence this ourselves with the right diet and by taking probiotics. The Bifidobacterium longum family of bacteria is known to counteract inflammation, constipation and celiac disease. So if you consume a sufficient amount of these bacterial strains, you have a good chance of many positive effects. So the next time you hear that we have no influence on our intestinal flora, hopefully you know what to say to that person ;)
So how does my intestinal flora contribute to my intestinal health?
The microorganisms living in the intestinal flora ensure, mainly in the large intestine, that vital vitamins and messenger substances are produced, nutrients are utilized and the mucous membranes are protected. The composition of your intestinal flora - in particular the diversity and number of colony-forming units (so-called CFUs) - is incredibly important because the intestinal flora has such a direct influence on your health.
Myth #4: Stress cannot affect the gut.
This is also wrong. Perceived mental and physical stress has a negative effect on pretty much all human biological processes developed by Mother Nature. Yes, if you pause for a moment and reflect on how much stress you have felt in the last 12 months, you may be alarmed. Since the intestines are closely linked to the psyche, stressful situations can influence the microbiome and intestinal activity. If you listen to yourself more closely, you may have already experienced the problem yourself: in times of stress, you may go to the toilet less often or unpleasant companions may make themselves known (diarrhea, flatulence, etc.). We'd better not even start on the effect on mood. In order to lead a healthy and (what we find almost more important) happy life, it is just as important to relax regularly and not stand in the way of the wonderful processes in your body. They all work best when we are happy.
