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Anyone who thinks that the intestines are only used to digest food is wrong. Recent studies show that they also have a huge impact on our overall health. In other words: if your intestines do not work properly, your body may suffer the consequences. Professor Eric De Maerteleire, bioengineer and doctor in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, provides a brief explanation and explains how you can keep your intestines healthy.
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Immune system in the intestines
75 percent of our immune system is located in the intestines. A healthy digestive system is therefore essential for identifying and combating pathogens. “We often talk about the GALT system. That is short for Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue,” says De Maerteleire. “GALT, the largest immune organ in the body of humans and pets, contains a variety of immune cell types from the innate and acquired immune systems. The intestines and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) are essential components of the whole body’s immune defenses, protecting the body against foreign antigens and pathogens, while allowing tolerance to commensal bacteria – these are harmless, even beneficial bacteria that live in and on our bodies life and food antigens is made possible.”
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- In technical terms, GALT is considered part of the mucosal immune system and consists of aggregated tissue, including Peyer’s platelets and solitary lymphoid follicles, and nonaggregated cells in the lamina propria, intestinal epithelial cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, as well as mesenteric lymph nodes.
- In human language: the inside of our intestines contains a layer of cells that are responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system. That layer must not be damaged and can only remain intact if the contents of the large intestine are in balance.
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Probiotics and prebiotics
There are several things you can do to keep your intestines healthy. First of all, the most effective and obvious option is to take probiotics daily. “Probiotics are living bacteria that have a positive influence on your intestines. They ensure that the micro-organisms in the digestive system remain balanced,” De Maerteleire explains. You can find probiotics in fermented foods and drinks such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, skyr and certain soy products. “Each person should eat 150 to 250 grams of yogurt per day, preferably immediately after lunch. At that time the pH value of the stomach is highest, so that the probiotics reach the intestines more quickly.”
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“A second important measure is to eat dietary fiber – prebiotics – which feed the good bacteria in our large intestine. One should eat 15 grams of fiber per 1000 kilocalories that one needs daily. An example: someone who has to consume 2000 kcal per day. You should eat 30 grams of fiber every day. We are currently far below that. The average Belgian eats barely 19 to 20 grams of fiber per day. One of the priority recommendations of the High Health Council of Belgium is to eat at least 125 whole grain products every day. “
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Last updated: December 2023
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2023-12-28 23:02:25
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