An introdution to gut bacteria
Your gut should be buzzing with good bacteria, creating a healthy environment in which food can be broken down and nutrients absorbed, and where cells belonging to the immune system can happily go about their business.
Good bacteria produce L+ lactic acid, which helps to protect you from harmful bugs in your gut.
Good gut environment with L+ lactic acid
L+ lactic acid also creates an environment that unfriendly bacteria and opportunistic fungi such as Candida albicans don't like, and makes it harder for them to stick to the gut wall instead of being passed through with the stool.
Aids metabolism
With plenty of L+ in your gut, the pH (a measure of how acid or alkaline something is) will be nicely balanced, promoting the production of digestive enzymes and therefore allowing you to break down fats and sugars more effectively. The right pH balance also encourages a healthy stool.
Supports immune function
As over 70% of your immune cells live in your gut, a healthy immune system depends partly on intestinal health.
Taking a source of L+ lactic acid will promote an environment where good gut bacteria can thrive. Those bacteria then produce more L+, and your gut goes from strength to strength.
A few reasons why digestive symptoms are widspread
Poor diet
Including large quantities of refined sugars, highly processed foods, caffeine, and fizzy drinks.
Stress
This turns off the digestive process and exacerbates inflammatory reactions.
Under-production of digestive enzymes
This can be due to rushed eating and lack of chewing. Many people gulp their food down at speed, barely touching it with their teeth.
Tackling these issues will benefit digestion greatly.
Incorporating a daily source of L+ lactic acid can help promote gentle daily cleansing of the intestinal tract, and can be a simple first step to improve gut health.
