In our blog posts and on our website, we often talk about various bacterial strains that are crucial for your gut health. To shed some light on the “bacteria darkness,” we explain what lies behind the three most important bacterial strains in our basic products.
So, may we introduce:
First, generally - Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacteria are among the most common probiotic bacteria found in the human body – they make up more than 80% of the microorganisms in your gut! Bifidobacteria are lactic acid bacteria that normally live in the gut and vagina but can also be introduced into the body through the intake of probiotic foods or supplements. Once in the gut, they can settle and multiply there. Bifidobacteria help the body break down food and absorb nutrients. They also have another important function: they can help prevent “bad” bacteria from penetrating the gut wall into the body, thereby supporting the immune system.
Bifidobacteria are real powerhouses when it comes to killing “bad” bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract. You can think of it this way: during or after taking antibiotics, “good” bacteria in your gut also die off. To prevent the “bad” bacteria from gaining the upper hand, bifidobacteria come into play because they can stop disease-causing bacteria from multiplying. This helps restore balance to your gut flora.
These bacteria can help treat diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Additionally, bifidobacteria strengthen the body’s own defense system through a variety of mechanisms. For a healthy body and well-being, it is therefore important to have enough bifidobacteria as part of your gut flora.
The Bifidobacterium Infantis
Bifidobacterium Infantis is one of the most common microorganisms in the bodies of breastfed infants, as this bacterium is mainly passed on to the newborn through breast milk.
Like other bifidobacteria, Bifidobacterium Infantis produces short-chain fatty acids in the gut. This includes acetic acid, which nourishes the cells in your intestinal mucosa. It also has another crucial advantage: it repels invading pathogens such as yeast and various fungi that can cause various diseases and infections. Acetic acid is especially important for babies, as it serves as a major energy source for them.
When children are born, they have open spaces between the gut cells. This provides a large target for invading toxins and other harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium Infantis has the important task of sending signals to the cells lining the gut, stimulating them to produce proteins that close the gaps between the individual cells in the gut wall. The denser the gut wall, the lower the child’s susceptibility to disease.
This bacterial strain also produces folate – also called vitamin B9. Folate is responsible for producing red blood cells, which in turn are responsible for oxygen transport in the body.
You might now think: this sounds like Bifidobacterium Infantis is only important for newborns, right? No, it’s not. This bacterial strain also supports digestion and general gut function in adulthood. Studies show that these bacteria help with digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, and bloating, as well as alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Where are bifidobacteria found?
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Cheese
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Your Dailybacs®
And now to the Lactobacilli
Lactobacilli are bacteria that, as the name suggests, produce the enzyme lactase. They are found in the gut, on the skin, and in women’s vaginas, supporting normal gut function, positively affecting the intestinal mucosa, and additionally protecting against infectious diseases. Lactobacilli are adapted to survive under acidic and basic conditions in your body. They attach to the gut wall and can colonize it – this has long-term positive effects on your gut health.
This bacterium is increasingly used for gastrointestinal complaints, vaginal infections such as bladder infections, and allergic diseases.
Lactobacilli are true all-rounders, as they have antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and immunostimulatory properties. They also have anti-inflammatory, digestion-promoting effects and help against diarrhea. After taking lactobacilli, they can normalize the composition of the gut flora and thus improve your well-being. At the same time, they positively affect the intestinal mucosa, stimulate mucus production in the gut, and strengthen the barrier function of the epithelium*. But that’s not all: lactobacilli stimulate your gut to move more, thus counteracting constipation, support the immune system, and simultaneously inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. Aren’t these little helpers in your gut impressive?
The Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
Named after its discoverers Sherwood Gorbach and Barry Golding, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus is also abbreviated as Lactobacillus GG. As the name suggests, this bacillus belongs to the genus of lactic acid bacteria. Due to its ability to ferment milk sugar into lactic acid, it acidifies its environment.
Like other lactobacilli, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus is mainly found in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and genital tract of humans. However, studies have shown that Lactobacillus GG is not a permanent resident of the gastrointestinal tract. It was only temporarily detected in the digestive organs of some healthy subjects.
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus has several positive effects on the human body, including the production of antimicrobial substances that fight disease-causing germs such as salmonella. They also promote a positive composition of the bacterial flora in the gut, mouth, and genital tract. They have anti-inflammatory properties and can positively influence the immune system. Last but not least, they can contribute positively to the barrier function of the gut and the protection of mucous membranes.
Lactobacillus GG can have very positive effects on the composition of the human gut flora and thus counteract an imbalance between beneficial – “good” – and disease-causing – “bad” – bacteria in the gut. If your gut flora gets out of balance, this can lead to digestive dysfunctions and infections in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to overweight.
Last but not least – Lactobacillus Plantarum
Unlike Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus Plantarum is a permanent resident of your body. More precisely, it is found in the gastrointestinal tract and saliva of healthy people. It also belongs to the family of lactic acid bacteria but has one of the largest genomes in its genus.
Like other lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus Plantarum has numerous positive effects on human health. These include the production of antimicrobial substances that fight disease-causing germs. They have anti-inflammatory properties, positively influence the immune system, improve the barrier function of mucous membranes, and thus have a beneficial effect on the bacterial flora in the gut. They are also responsible for acidifying their environment through lactic acid production and can break down bile acids.
Lactobacillus Plantarum normally colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of healthy people and can positively influence the composition of the gut flora. Like Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, it can counteract an imbalance between bad and beneficial bacteria in the gut.
In medicine, Lactobacillus Plantarum is used to treat lipid metabolism disorders, overweight, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, and mental illnesses.
Where are Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Lactobacillus Plantarum found?
- Fermented foods
- Sauerkraut and pickles
- Buttermilk, yogurt, milk
- Your Dailybacs®
*Epithelium: The epithelium or covering tissue is a complex of specialized cell layers arranged in sheets without significant intercellular substance. They always occupy boundary surfaces of the body, i.e., they are located on the skin surface or the inside of hollow organs; https://www.lecturio.de/magazin/histologie-epithelien/
