Intestinal health directly affects nutrition
For many years, malnutrition has often been seen as a consequence of food deficiency or calorie deficiency. However, medical experts believe that the body may still lack nutrients even if it eats adequately if the digestive system works ineffectively.
Neerja Hajela - Director of Science and Legal Affairs at Yakult Danone India, India - said that gut microorganisms play an important role in the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients.
According to Ms. Hajela, trillions of bacteria exist in the gut, including both beneficial and harmful bacteria. When this balance is broken, the body may have difficulty absorbing vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients from food.
This condition is often called underlying malnutrition, meaning the body still eats enough but does not absorb effectively. The consequences may be prolonged fatigue, immunodeficiency, slow development in young children or increased risk of the disease.
Experts also warn that prolonged digestive infections and enteritis can cause the body to lose the ability to absorb nutrients, even if the diet has been improved.
Probiotics and a balanced diet help support the digestive system
One of the solutions recommended by many experts is to improve gut health through a diet rich in fiber and supplementing with probiotics.
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help maintain the balance of the gut microbiome. According to Neerja Hajela, some beneficial bacteria strains have the ability to survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and support improving the digestive environment.
In addition to supporting nutrient absorption, a healthy digestive system is also closely related to the immune system. Studies show that most of the body's immune cells are located in the intestines, so maintaining a balanced microbiome can help reduce the risk of infection.
Experts believe that to improve nutrition, it is necessary to combine many solutions instead of just focusing on the amount of food consumed. A diverse diet, rich in green vegetables, fiber and fermented foods can contribute to improving digestive health.
In addition, maintaining food hygiene, limiting processed foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle also plays an important role in protecting the gut microbiome.
Many experts believe that bowel health care not only helps the body absorb nutrients better but is also an important foundation for improving long-term health.
