A healthy lifestyle promotes our intestinal flora and contributes significantly to our health. But without knowing it, typical behaviors can upset our intestinal flora from its natural balance and damage it.
If our intestinal flora is doing well, we are also healthy. Because the entirety of all microorganisms that are at home in our intestines contribute to our well-being. The thousands of different strains of bacteria are important for numerous bodily functions. The microbiome, as our intestinal flora is also called, protects our immune system and prevents the spread and multiplication of pathogenic pathogens. In addition, a fit intestine ensures regular digestion. A healthy lifestyle contributes to an intact intestinal flora. But we don’t always follow all the advice and unconsciously fall into typical everyday traps that affect our intestinal flora.
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These 4 mistakes damage your intestinal flora
1. You drink too little
According to the recommendation of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), we should consume around 1.5 liters of water or unsweetened tea every day – with physical work, heat and sport, it can be 2-3 liters. But we don’t always manage to get to our daily drinking amount. As a rule, we first notice a lack of liquid with headaches and problems concentrating. But our digestion also suffers: if we drink too little water, the body withdraws water from the stool and constipation occurs .
2. You eat too little fiber
Dietary fibers are true all-rounders. Among other things, they protect our cardiovascular system by regulating our blood pressure. Our intestines also need fiber, which can be found in fruit and vegetables, grains and legumes. On the one hand, roughage promotes our feeling of satiety, serves as food for good intestinal bacteria and promotes digestion. Unfortunately, according to the National Consumption Study II , we eat too little of the good dietary fiber. Men consume about 25 grams daily and women 23 grams. However, the guideline value for the DGE intake is 30 grams.
3. You chew too little
If we feel very hungry, it can quickly happen that we gorge on food and don’t take enough time to chew. But true to the old adage “Well chewed is half digested!” You should chop each bite thoroughly. This makes digestion easier for your gastrointestinal tract and promotes the absorption of nutrients. Another plus for taking enough time to eat: After about 15 minutes, you feel full. So if you eat more slowly, you will feel full sooner.
4. They snack all the time
A piece of chocolate here, a biscuit there. Whenever we get hungry, we like to have sweet snacks. But the small snacks and the constant eating put a strain on our intestines. We don’t give our digestive organs breaks to recover. If we then also grab unhealthy snacks, it will add up to our calorie count. Nutrition experts recommend not eating for three to four hours between meals.
