As of: February 18, 2024, 4:47 a.m
By: Susanne Sasse
Comments
Press
Split
A healthy intestine is the prerequisite for a healthy body and the best insurance against obesity.
The author and doctor Dr.
Ulrich Strunz gives valuable tips on how the intestines find their natural balance.
It is the largest internal organ in humans and influences everything.
What happens in the seven meters that an intestine can measure is crucial to a person's health and emotional well-being, says Dr.
Ulrich Strunz, general practitioner, gastroenterologist and former triathlete.
“How your intestines are doing determines whether you stay healthy into old age or become ill at an early age.” This is also crucially about the so-called microbiome, the bacteria in the intestines.
“You can compare the microbiome to a jungle – species diversity is crucial, because each type of bacteria takes on very specific functions,” says Strunz.
In his book “77 Tips for a Healthy Gut” (Heyne, 222 pages, 13 euros) he devotes himself to “our super organ”.
His tips for a healthy intestine:
The diversity of intestinal bacteria is essential for digestion
Dr.
Ulrich Strunz is an author, doctor and ex-triathlete.
The successful author focuses primarily on preventive medicine.
© imago sports photo service
The intestinal bacteria ferment fiber and proteins, forming vitamins, short-chain fatty acids and other nutrients.
The quality and quantity of intestinal bacteria depends heavily on what you feed them with.
If you eat a lot of sugar and other empty carbohydrates without fiber, such as white rice or white flour products, the bad intestinal bacteria multiply.
These must not get out of hand.
During digestion they release toxins (so-called lipopolysaccharides) that lead to inflammation.
And they displace the health-promoting intestinal bacteria.
The good intestinal bacteria primarily include those that ferment fiber.
The more diverse you eat - especially fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables and sour fruits - the more diverse your intestinal microbiome becomes.
Vegetables in all shapes and colors are essential for the intestines.
© xSkripkox/Imago
Also important for the functioning of the intestine are the enzymes that break down food particles to release nutrients.
Enzymes are structured very differently than bacteria, fungi or viruses: they consist of amino acids.
Enzymes are produced in the intestinal mucosa, but especially in the pancreas.
Lots of vegetables and local sour fruits promote the health of the pancreas.
It also needs sufficient water and zinc to produce digestive enzymes - so if you have constant digestive problems, it makes sense to have a blood test done to determine a possible zinc deficiency.
By the way, the pancreas works better during the day than in the evening, which is why heavy dishes lie in the stomach in the evening.
If the intestinal mucosa is damaged, dangerous bacteria can invade
The inside of the intestine is covered with a thin layer of mucus, whose job is to keep foreign substances and harmful substances from entering the body.
The mucus is produced by certain cells called goblet cells, which are located in the intestinal mucosa.
If the intestinal lining becomes thin, inflammation occurs.
However, there are bacteria that specifically build up intestinal mucus.
Studies have shown that they are often almost completely absent in people with chronic intestinal inflammation.
The following foods promote the proliferation of these mucus-promoting bacteria: blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, grapes and apples as well as walnuts and pecans.
My news
Reduce belly fat: If you know one rule, you are guaranteed to read your stomach
Do you always wake up at the same time?
The Chinese organ clock could provide the explanation
Poisonous linseed?
Read about when you shouldn't eat muesli
Clear your nose in just one minute - without nasal spray or other medication
Possible sign of a heart attack?
What you need to know if your heart is racing at night
White, yellow, green or clear?
Color of nasal mucus gives an indication of when you should go to the doctor read
Stomach acid inhibitors are so harmful
The microbiome in the gut consists of trillions of bacteria.
These not only help with digestion.
The microbiome also influences weight and psychology.
© Panthermedia/IMAGO
Around 20 percent of people in Europe suffer from heartburn or reflux - and many take stomach acid blockers to combat it.
Caution!
Stomach acid blockers work in the so-called parietal cells in the stomach, which produce stomach acid.
If they are inhibited, the pH value in the stomach rises from normally 1.5 to 3.5 to pH values of over 5. This leads to subsequent problems, because one of the purposes of stomach acid is actually to kill harmful bacteria.
If it can no longer do this, these harmful bacteria will multiply.
In addition, bacteria that actually belong in the large intestine can settle in the stomach!
Stomach acid also serves to pre-digest proteins.
If it can no longer do this, protein particles that are too large end up in the intestines and the enzymes there are overwhelmed.
Then they can no longer break down the proteins into their individual particles, and the absorption of vital amino acids decreases.
Especially since the enzymes in the intestines also need a certain level of acidity in order to work optimally.
The functions of the intestines
The intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients - and these in turn are important for every single cell in our body.
In addition, the intestine not only has to filter out nutrients from food, but also fend off toxins, allergens and dangerous microorganisms such as pathogens so that they cannot penetrate the body.
A healthy intestine can do this. But if it is sick, foreign substances find their way into the body and keep the immune system busy.
Chronic inflammatory reactions occur.
This weakens the body and makes it sick in the long term.
Antibiotics and painkillers damage the intestinal bacteria.
And since these affect the enzymes that break down food, they also harm the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
So, in addition to medication, take live intestinal bacteria.
Particularly recommends Dr.
Strunz preparations that contain the medicinal yeast Saccharomyces boulardij.
Cook yourself and avoid ready-made products.
Because they contain many substances that harm the intestinal bacteria.
For example, preservatives and sweeteners kill important intestinal bacteria.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions about medical conditions.