Lactobacillus (plural: Lactobacilli or Lactobacilli) was chosen as the Microbe of the Year in 2018. However, most people don't know much about these important bacteria in our bodies. It's time to learn more about Lactobacilli!
The History of Lactobacilli
About 7,000 years ago, settled livestock farmers in Northern Europe began consuming more milk and milk products such as yogurt or cheese. The production of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down milk sugar and is normally only present in infants, became established in adult Central Europeans (lactase persistence). This is why many adults in Asia or Africa still have difficulty tolerating dairy products. Worldwide, around 75% of people are lactose intolerant.
What is Lactobacillus?
Whether in yogurt or cheese, everyone knows the process by which milk sours and is then further processed. Lactobacilli are responsible for this souring of milk. They belong to a genus of rod-shaped bacteria from the family of lactic acid bacteria. The name derives from Latin, where lactis means milk and bacillus refers to the rod shape. Due to their numerous positive functions, they are among the "good" bacteria in the human body. Lactobacilli convert sugar into lactic acid and gain energy through this process, which is called fermentation. During this process, they acidify their environment.
Where are they found?
Lactobacilli are found in the human body in breast milk, on the skin, in the vagina, and in the digestive tract. Thus, they are part of the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract and the skin. The probiotic properties of Lactobacillus positively affect gut health and stabilize the intestinal flora. In the vagina, they even make up 90 to 100 percent of the bacteria. They colonize the skin and gut and are essential for health. Lactobacilli are also present in the stomach and mouth. Contact with lactic acid bacteria occurs right at the beginning of life. During natural birth, the mother's vaginal Lactobacilli are transferred to the newborn. Through this contact with Lactobacilli, the baby receives its first protection against diseases. They are important to us from the very first second of life. However, over the course of life, these helpful bacteria in the body can be partially destroyed by taking antibiotics or other harmful influences, which can make infections, diarrhea, or other illnesses more likely.
What is the significance of Lactobacillus in the gut?
Millions of Lactobacilli colonize the entire human digestive tract, especially the small intestine, and support digestion. They are essential, for example, in breaking down fiber. Fiber is mainly found in vegetables, grains, and legumes and cannot be digested by the intestinal cells alone. Therefore, the human body relies on the help of Lactobacilli. Without this assistance, fiber would cause problems in the gut. Lactobacilli break down fiber with special enzymes and convert it into lactic acid. Lactic acid is well tolerated by the gut and also acts as a protective factor. Furthermore, Lactobacilli are responsible for the function of the intestinal mucosa, which transports nutrients from the gut into our blood and also supports our immune system.
Lactobacilli and lactose intolerance?
In lactose intolerance, the gut is unable to convert sugar into lactic acid because it produces less or no lactase enzyme. As a result, symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps often occur. To manage this, certain Lactobacilli can be supplied to the body, which convert the sugar and can thus improve the symptoms.
How do I best take Lactobacilli?
Lactobacilli are found in many types of yogurt but can also be supplied through other foods such as:
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Cheese
- Kefir
- Tempeh
- Kimchi
They can also be taken as dietary supplements. Lactobacilli are very sensitive to heat. They can be destroyed by higher temperatures and cooking processes. The dailybacs from mybacs contain five different strains of Lactobacilli that can survive the journey to our digestive system.
Their exact names are:
Lactobacillus plantarum LP01, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR06, Lactobacillus crispatus LCR01, Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. Salivarius CRL 1328, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.
The abbreviations after the bacterial species indicate the exact strains chosen for Dailybacs, as the effects can vary between strains.
