Immunity: the role of the gut microbiome
Many of our immune cells are located in the gut.
This organ, and in particular the bacteria it contains (microbiota), plays an important role in defending against pathogens.
Maintaining the integrity of the gut microbiota is essential to maintaining good defences, and probiotics can help.
The gut ecosystem: the heart of our immune defences
The intestine is not just an organ dedicated to the transit of food.
In fact, the intestinal ecosystem is made up of 3 elements that work in synergy and intervene, each at its own level, in the immune defence process, namely:
The intestinal lining
This is the membrane that lines the entire wall of the digestive tract.
It represents a huge surface area for exchange between the outside and inside: about 300 m2, the equivalent of a tennis court.
The lining prevents unwanted micro-organisms from entering the body, but allows nutrients and micronutrients to pass through.
It acts as a "filter".
The gut immune system
Defends the body against invaders and enables food tolerance: around 60% of our immune cells are concentrated in the gut.
The gut microbiota
The gut microbiota (with its 10,000 billion bacteria) helps protect us from pathogens by acting as a barrier: by adhering to the intestinal mucosa, the flora bacteria prevent pathogenic microorganisms from colonising the gut.
Dysbiosis: when the microbiota go wrong
Certain situations, such as poorly managed stress, an unbalanced diet or the use of antibiotics, can lead to an imbalance in the microbiota, known as dysbiosis.
This can disrupt the balance of the gut ecosystem and weaken our immune defences.
However, certain friendly bacteria can boost the activity of the gut microbiota: probiotics.
Probiotics essential for the immune system
- Lacto-fermented foods and drinks: yoghurt, milk kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh, raw sauerkraut
- Lactobacillus gasseri or L-gasseri
- Lactobacillus casei or L. casei
- Lactic ferments: lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, streptococcus, lactococcus