Sometimes it is necessary to remove part of the intestine, for example in the case of cancer or Crohn’s disease. It is also possible that someone suffers from short bowel syndrome. In that case there is a shortage of properly functioning intestinal tissue. All these abnormalities cause approximately the same complaints. A good diet is necessary, but people without intestinal abnormalities must also take good care of their intestinal flora.
Intestinal parasites
When the balance in the intestinal flora is out of balance, you will not immediately catch an intestinal infection, but you will often notice that there are problems. An excess of harmful intestinal parasites can cause the following complaints:
- anemia
- constipation alternating with diarrhea
- flatulence and foul-smelling stools
- mucus in the stool
- swollen abdomen
- fatigue
- joint pains
- nausea
It can even go so far that these intestinal parasites start to collect bacteria and fungi around themselves. This can cause muscle and joint pain and inflammation in the joints. So never underestimate the importance of healthy intestinal flora, this is essential for our health.
According to researchers at the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome research at Baylor College of Medicine, an imbalance in the intestinal flora may be responsible for the following diseases:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- depression
- Alzheimer’s
- obsessive-compulsive disorders
- diabetes
- weight problems, both gaining too much and losing too much weight is possible
Eating vegetables
The good bacteria in our intestines need vegetables to maintain their population. The harmful bacteria in the intestines grow through glucose. It is important to maintain a good balance, so eat enough vegetables. If you don’t do this, you increase the risk of intestinal inflammation. To inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, it is better to leave the sugar for a while, or at least reduce it.
If you are not used to eating vegetables and have problems with your intestinal flora, you should not suddenly increase the amount of vegetables you consume drastically. Do this gradually to avoid problems such as bloating and excessive gas. Your body needs time to get used to your new diet. Some people react particularly strongly to beans, leeks and onions, so if this is the case with you, it is better to avoid these vegetables.
Sufficient exercise and sufficient fluids
Exercise stimulates the contractions of the intestines, so that food does not stay in one place for too long and passes smoothly through the intestinal tract. In addition, exercise helps maintain and/or gain a healthy body weight.
Sufficient fluid ensures that waste products do not accumulate in the intestines, but are removed. So drink enough fluids every day, preferably water.
Avoid saturated fat
Too much saturated fat irritates the intestines, especially fatty sauces (satay sauce, mayonnaise, garlic sauce), fried food and desserts with a lot of cream can cause problems. The waste products of this pass less easily through the intestinal tract, which can result in a bloated abdomen with both constipation and diarrhea. In addition, (according to researchers at the University of Wageningen) saturated fat can cause serious inflammatory reactions.
Good fats are important for good intestinal flora. When it comes to suppliers of good fats, think of oily fish (salmon, eel, trout, herring, mackerel, sardines), cheese, walnuts, hazelnuts, olives and avocado.
Full-fat yogurt
Full-fat yogurt is packed with probiotics. If you suffer from intestinal problems, it is wise to eat a bowl of full-fat yogurt every day. This accelerates stomach emptying, stimulates intestinal transit and supports the functioning of the intestinal flora. In addition, it also inhibits the formation of unwanted bacteria such as E.coli. A bowl of full-fat yoghurt is therefore very healthy.
