In this episode I have my dear husband and gut expert Roman Gruber as a guest in an interview.
Among other things, we talk about:
- Why bacteria are so important for our health
- For which complaints should you be alert to the use ofprobiotics become
- What areprobiotics in general
- How do you recognize a goodprobiotic
- What are prebiotics
- Why does stress have such abig influence on the gut
- The live event from ArktisBioPharma on the subject of sport and the gut
Why we think bacteria are disgusting...
Hello Roman, nice to have you here.
Today we want to talk about bacteria.
Bacteria sounds pretty disgusting to many people at first. Why are bacteria disgusting for us?
Roman: It has to do with the fact that we hear a lot of negative things about bacteria. This is due to the Middle Ages, when bacteria were always blamed for all diseases. Today, antibiotics are often administered to prevent bacterial infections.
However, we should remember that we would not live without bacteria, they are very important for us. Bacteria are our silent workers, because everything our metabolism needs - is converted into energy, into restoration, into regeneration - into very different things, so we should recognize that they are "roommates and friends" of ours.
We should make sure that the majority of bacteria that live in our homes are positive for us and that the other bacteria are reduced to what we need.
Where can bacteria be found in the body?
Roman: They can be found everywhere where food is absorbed and processed, i.e. in the oral mucosa, on the skin when showering with too much water. pungent agents, on the mucous membranes in the intestines, vaginally... They are at home almost everywhere, but most of them are in the intestines.
You like to talk about the so-called milieu - what is it and how can we imagine it?
Roman: A milieu is an environment, the milieu I'm talking about is the intestinal milieu. It is defined by the pH value, which is either acidic, alkaline or neutral. Most of it is in the acidic range, starting in the stomach, for example. This must be acidic in order to keep bacteria away from us that would have negative consequences for us.
There are also sections that are alkaline, which is why it is important that the pH value is correct and attempts are made to correct it if it is not within the normal range.
What are probiotics and prebiotics?
If you suspect that you don't have enough good bacteria, you can also take probiotics, what are probiotics?
Roman: Probiotics, also known as symbiotics, are bacteria that have different functions. What we use are lead strains - these are leaders that take the reins to bring about a change in the gut. There are various strains of the guide strains that change the environment from alkaline to acidic, such as lactic acid bacteria, kombucha...
In the past, fermented products contained bacteria that strengthened the immune system and thus preserved the food.
Why a probiotic?
Who should consider taking a probiotic or various probiotics - what complaints do people typically have?
Roman: It can be used for all complaints - e.g. on the toilet in a service station or at the airport, where a probiotic would be recommended. People are also undersupplied with viable good bacteria during stress.
However, we do not always have these foods available, such as sauerkraut in the fall. It is therefore relatively difficult to take them naturally, at least if you do not ferment them.
It would make more sense to take a probiotic cure based on probiotic bacteria in winter than a vitamin cure, as vitamins never have this shelf-life effect.
So can you basically say that taking them is good for everyone because we need both?Can you give other examples, such as diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, where one should be particularly careful to use good bacteria?
Roman: Basically, I would use bacteria for all illnesses, the only question is which ones are the right ones.
If I have to take antibiotics, it makes sense to take them while the antibiotics are being used, at intervals of 2 hours. Afterwards, it also helps to prevent diarrhea due to the antibiotics.
It is also helpful to start relatively early in the case of an upcoming operation, as well as in the case of bladder infections or inflammation of the oral mucosa or skin diseases.
The most difficult thing is to determine which bacteria to use for which illness.
For example, in the case of the flu, an injury, an operation, or stress. This is usually due to inflammation. Anti-inflammatory bacteria are highly recommended here.
It is also important to think outside the box, i.e. to look at the disease itself: Where did it originate, what triggered this illness? You should then try to eliminate the inflammation through your diet and probiotics
.
Nutrition should not be ignored either!
Probiotics alone are not enough, your diet also plays an important role, right?
Roman: Yes, if I basically eat the wrong food, such as too much sugar, pizza, pasta, bread, ... the environment will never improve. As soon as I stop taking in bacteria, I go back to the same level as before.
So diet is the most important thing, but other behaviors such as stress/chronic stress also trigger reactions in the autonomic nervous system, e.g. diarrhea, constipation, which can lead to a leaky gut. Many things are involved, not just the bacteria.
So you don't have to take the bacteria for the rest of your life, but they serve as a bridge?
Roman: Yes, if I am ill and want to improve something, they are helpful. If I want to do something good for myself, they can be supportive. For example, if I want to build up my gut for 1-2 months at the beginning of fall to strengthen my immune system, then I am happy to recommend this, regardless of the form in which it is administered, e.g. a powder or a food such as kombucha, etc...
If you want to find out which bacteria are best to take - e.g. by using a microbiome analysis - are there other ways of finding out which products you could take?
Roman: The microbiome analysis is simply the best option, as you can see a lot more through this analysis, and you also get a follow-up check and therefore benefit from a progress check.
Apart from that, the description of the probiotic also gives you information about what it is good for. If I want to change my diet, for example, or go on a diet, or want to get my immune system in shape, then very simple normal products usually help. However, you should look at the quality of the product.
If you have a known diagnosis, it is also important to take a stool sample, because this is where you can decide what to use where and how.
What is important when buying a product
You mentioned the issue of product quality.
Can you give us a tip on what to look out for when buying a product?
Roman: There are bacteria from good to poor quality that vary in price, they are all the same bacteria that are defined by their different shelf lives.
If you choose a product where bacteria are mixed, it becomes difficult, because then the stabilization of the bacteria can no longer be guaranteed.
So with certain compositions of bacteria with vitamin C, the bacteria are no longer stable and a certain placebo effect can arise.
What do you think of the argument: capsule versus powder?
Roman: It has been argued that capsules are better than powders.
You have to assume that bacteria come naturally. It is always said with Young children "you should really eat dirt" to be able to absorb as many bacteria as possible, the body lets the positive clean bacteria through and the bad ones are eliminated in the stomach acid.
That's why the losses you have through stomach acid are actually included in the intake, so that what we have as a goal also arrives in the intestine at the end.
Then it makes more sense to take bacterial powder and stir the bacteria into water and leave them to stand so that they can gain strength and defend themselves against the negative foreign malignant bacteria in the intestine.
The problem with capsules is that they dissolve freshly in the intestine.
Capsules are only needed for a product that contains a fungus, such as "Akut", which does not tolerate moisture, which is recommended, for example, when taking antibiotics. Here the environment is made receptive again for positive bacteria.
The difference between probiotics and prebiotics
What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? Can they be combined?
Roman: Probiotics are living organisms. Prebiotics are indigestible substances, also known as dietary fiber. Prebiotics give the bacteria the nutrients they need, which are then partially excreted because they are not digested and carry waste products with them.
It supports digestion and stimulates intestinal activity. This is why prebiotics are very important, which can also be obtained from food such as vegetables or, in some cases, from supplements with different properties. We rely on our Acacia Fiber Powder Grow because it contains almost all properties and can be taken very easily. This is the best product for us.
Pro- and prebiotics therefore belong together and can be combined, especially if you are not eating optimally, this is also an initial support that can accelerate a changeover.
Meet Roman LIVE
We have now shared a lot of information. You often take part in events to put your knowledge into practice, where you present case studies, talk to experts, etc.. You have an event planned for October, would you like to tell us about it?
Roman: The event will take place on October 23rd at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, and there will be live streaming for anyone who is unable to attend. Information on this can be found on the Arktis Academy website.
The focus is on the topic: "Intestinal performance brake" in the sports sector. We have invited great experts, such as doctors from the fields of sport, gut, back, as well as therapists who work with this and practitioners who deal with this topic in the field of sport on a daily basis.
It's important to me to invite people who can share their own experiences and knowledge and also provide information so that the audience receives valuable information.
Would you say that this event is only interesting for athletes and people who work with athletes or can conclusions be drawn for everyone? draw?
Roman: This event is interesting for everyone, because everyone takes something away for themselves. In most cases, sport is about inflammation, such as stress caused by daily training, poor diet, etc.
It is just as important for someone who suffers from chronic inflammation, because the end result is always inflammation. The event is suitable for everyone, from doctors to interested people who want to take a lot away for themselves.
There is a great combination of scientific presentations and interesting contributions from therapists and professional athletes.
Participants can also ask the experts 1:1 on site.
You also brought us a gift voucher called "Podcast058". With this voucher, podcast listeners receive 10% off either the products or the event, right?
Roman: Yes, but please note that this voucher should not be placed in the same shopping cart, as these are two different purchase processes.
If you have any questions, please contact our customer support Arktis BioPharma Switzerland.
Roman's closing words
Finally, is there anything you would like to give the listeners to think about when it comes to probiotics and the gut?
Roman: When it comes to the gut, you should know that behind it is always the autonomic system, so it's important to understand that if I have stress, it can lead to gut problems or a stomach ulcer.
Too much joy or sadness can lead to diarrhea. Because what you think and feel always has a big impact on your bowel function.
If I always have problems with my intestines, in addition to taking pro- and prebiotics and changing my diet, I should also consider reviewing my lifestyle and finding ways to slow down.
Finally, I recommend looking at this: What can I do to shut down something that also shuts down and calms my autonomic nervous system.
A great tip,I think everyone can take something away with them.
Thank you very much for your time.
These are the links to the episode:
Website ofArktisBioPharma Switzerland:https://arktis-wp.dev.intocommerce.de
Website of the event about sport and gut:https://www.arktisbiopharma.academy
Voucher code 10% for ArktisBioPharma products or for the event on 23.10.19: (applicable once): podcast058
Website of ArktisBioPharma Germany: https://www.arktisbiopharma.de
Now I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, I really appreciate a rating on iTunes or Apple Podcast. Because these reviews also help other people find the podcast so we can spread the knowledge about gut and health more.
