Mapping a healthy gut
STRESS is a terminology that describes an individual’s state of mind strained by demanding circumstances.
In real life, stress activates an amazing system in the body – the human emergency response system.
“Fight-or-flight” hormones are released to increase the individual’s breathing, heart rate and blood pressure when under pressured circumstances.
Meanwhile, the body reserves of blood cells and glucose flood into the bloodstream.
This mechanism cascades the reactions and prepares one to deal with the “stressor” – the object that triggers stress in a person.
Once the stressor is passed, the body returns to normal – if it remains, it leaves one chronically at a stage of anxiety. That may impact one’s health, causing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
There is a clear connection between the brain and the stomach. The “Brain-Gut Axis” is a bi-directional system of communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. It consists of hormones, nerves and other molecule substances.
One metaphorical reaction commonly known is the feeling of butterflies in the stomach when one gets nervous.
This demonstrates the close relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain.
Studies have shown that the health of the digestive system is impacted on one’s mood and well-being, and vice versa.
Recent research even manifested that gut microbiota also communicate with the brain through the Brain-Gut Axis.
Gut microbiota are an important player in influencing the brain and risk of mental diseases, such as anxiety and mood disorders.
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is in-charge of the communica- tion between the gut and the brain, helps promote the growth of nerve cells from breakdown of food and also works as a mood regulator.
When the brain detects stress, anxiety level increases and the gut begins to rumble. Worse if it deteriorates into IBS, with symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
Lactobacillus plantarum LP299VTM (LP299VTM) was started as a vision to save the lives of those dying from multiple-organ failure by a group of surgeons, microbiologist and nutritionist during the early 1990s in Sweden.
It is a lactic acid bacteria that is now patented throughout the world for its unique properties that positively affect gastrointestinal health, especially for IBS.
So far, only LP299VTM, out of so many probiotic stains, is able to displace harmful intestinal wall-bound bacteria, and continues to facilitate intestinal function by adhering to the walls using specific adhesion mechanism for up to 11 days.
It demonstrated its efficacy after 20 years of intense clinical trials by alleviating all IBS symptoms – 95% of patients experienced overall IBS symptoms improvement within four weeks with 20 billion CFU of LP299VTM.
Stress is a fact of life, but being stressed out is not.
People hardly have control over demanding circumstances, but reacting by becoming overwhelmed or distraught is counter-productive.
Since Brain-Gut Axis has been scientifically discussed, the stomach’s bi-directional relationship with the brain calls for better management of one’s daily stresses.
This article is brought to you by in-house nutritionist at BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.