Trust your gut instinct
and boosting immunity – being harmless microbes, they’re good at stimulating non-specific immunity in the gut.
Specific diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease have been looked at and there’s currently immense interest in obesity and gut-brain interactions (cognitive function).”
Research by University of Plymouth last year found probiotic bacteria could help control the development and progression of colorectal cancer. mented sweet tea), kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage), tempeh (fermented soya bean patties), miso (fermented soya bean paste) and sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), as well as yoghurt.
“Probiotics can also be found in supplements and special drinks such as Yakult,” says Dr Ruxton.
“It’s good to combine probiotics with prebiotics – dietary substances that boost numbers of ‘friendly’ bacteria and promote their activity. The most accessible prebiotics are tea, onions, garlic and leeks. These have been proven to help rebalance our gut microbiota.”
Prof Gibson explains that prebiotics are like fertilisers for live probiotic microbes already in the gut.
Dr Ruxton says UK diets tend to be low in fibre, fruit and veg and high in animal protein, “which doesn’t do your gut microbiota any good”.
“However, people who are eating their five-a-day fruit and veg, and getting two to three daily servings of fibre-rich foods like wholegrain bread, pasta and rice, or high-fibre breakfast cereal, plus a few servings of fermented foods a week, should have a healthy gut microbiota.
“Everyone else should consider adapting their diets, or taking a probiotic supplement.”
Dr Ruxton says people who are immunosuppressed should avoid probiotics because even ‘good’ bacteria, which would be harmless in most people, has the potential to cause infection in those with a suppressed immune system.