BINC

According to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), 'prebiotics are selectively fermented ingredients that result in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus conferring benefit(s) upon host health.'
Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds that act as a fuel source for health-promoting microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract which is required for the protection against pathogens and the improvement of the intestinal barrier function. They help stimulate the growth of good gut bacteria by acting as food for the bacteria. They are predominant in many high-fiber foods, including bananas, apples and whole grains.
Researchers have focused on the following types of prebiotics:
• Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
• Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)
• Inulin
These types of prebiotics serve as food for the microbiota, increasing the overall gastrointestinal tract health.
Prebiotics, such as GOS, can exert a direct antimicrobial effect and thus, block the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal cell walls.

Biostime Institute for Nutrition and Care wishes you a healthy and joyful 2022!

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Scientists have established that there is a strong connection between the brain and the microbiota (the trillions of microorganisms in our bodies). This connection is one of the major regulators of the gut-brain function and is named the gut-brain Axis. Many refer to it as the ‘brain in your gut’ located in the walls of the digestive system. This ‘second brain’ is called the enteric nervous system which is composed of at least 100 million nerve cells located across our intestinal tract.
The microbiota and the brain communicate with each other via the immune system, the vagus nerve, and the enteric nervous system, involving microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids.
Our gut and brain also communicate through the neurons that travel across our bodies. There are around 100 billion neurons in our brain and 500 million in our gut.

In early life, many factors can influence the microbiota's composition, including, mode of birth delivery, infection, use of antibiotic medications, nutrition, environment. Stress has been shown to significantly impact the microbiota-gut-brain axis at different stages of life.
Current research studies seek to understand the underlying mechanisms of the microbiota-gut-brain axis for potential future therapeutic prevention.

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