Why nutritional supplements?
In this period of Lent when some practice some dietary restrictions and are, hence, more attention to what they eat, we had the idea to ask the doctor Patrick Theillier why he favored in the life of every day, use of dietary supplements. Of course it does not blame anyone for it consumes not, nor seek to persuade any strength, simply the opportunity to address a practice that spreads for obvious reasons.
There is much talk today of dietary supplements without knowing what to think. How to recover from the spate of advertising information displayed on food packaging? Whom to trust? Must be treated by dietary supplements, what is now called micro-nutrition or nutritherapy? If everyone was healthy, this would not even bother to ask questions. This is unfortunately not the case. It has certainly added years to life, but not so much life to years! In the West, as Aldous Huxley once said: “The medicine has made so much progress that nobody is in good health.” Indeed, nature is so mishandled that it no longer essential nutrients. Industrial agriculture and intensive farming, developed over the last fifty years in Western countries produce food depleted in micro-nutrients necessary to health as are vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and essential amino acids and enzymes. Thus, it provides consumers with quality food, which cause poor health. Furthermore, our intestinal flora, essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption is not taken into account by ordinary medicine, which is regrettable, we know well today.
All this has led to failures and fouling harmful to our health, participating (with other factors such as physical inactivity, stress, excess calories or toxic alcohol, tobacco, coffee, pesticides and additives food) to the onset of functional form field “diseases of civilization”. It may be difficult to treat disorders such as chronic fatigue, susceptibility to infections, Fibromyalgia, issues of sexuality and fertility, reduced memory, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, etc.. ranging up to severe conditions: degenerative diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s, etc..).
There is not much choice: to stay healthy now, we must reform our deeply diet. This is especially true for people spasmophilia field which make up 17% of the population whose nutritional needs are highest. But changing your diet is not always easy, it is wise to begin by adopting nutritional supplements that can gradually reform the way they feed. The micro-nutrition should lead to good nutrition. Still need to know what to take.
Nutrition Therapy is based on a tripod that takes into account: a balanced intestinal flora, proper lubrication of the body and an intake of nutrients working synergistically.
The intestinal microflora or microbiota
We do not know enough of the intestine is the backbone of our health by the mucosa which is our largest area of exchange with the outside world (400 m2, an area the size of a tennis court) and the microflora or microbiota (consisting of 100 000 billion bacteria more than 800 different species). This microflora is not only crucial to digestion with the multiple enzymes it produces, but also to immunity because it forms a real ‘central immune.
The abundance and low status and balance of the microflora are the basic pillars of our health: it protects us against infectious germs; synthesizes many enzymes needed for proper digestion, involved in the synthesis of vitamin B12 and K, the degradation of cholesterol and exogenous hormones in excess, and the absorption of phyto-hormones, it also produces components essential to the intestinal epithelium, and finally prevents the passage of bacterial neurotoxins.
Seems it is the main component of what we are specific, namely an important component of our field.
Excessive consumption of gluten content in grains and modern protein cow’s milk causes an alteration of intestinal mucosa causing hyperpermeability of the mucosa. This leaves then enter the blood macromolecules and bacterial food that will, according to our genetic predispositions:
- Is going to fix some parts of the body (myelin sheath, joints …) and trigger an inflammatory reaction causes many degenerative diseases (multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis …);
- Or be eliminated by excretory generating various diseases: skin (acne, eczema, psoriasis), nose (rhinitis and chronic sinusitis), lungs (asthma, chronic bronchitis).
The intestine, with its mucosa contains 100 million neurons (as far as the spinal cord) is also a real axis neuro-endocrine-immune connection in the brain (the axis psycho-emotional), making a score of neurotransmitters, including serotonin-regulating mood and is involved in depressive disorders. Hence the importance of acting on the ground and start all nutritherapy by action on the intestine with prebiotics and probiotics.
Prebiotics are soluble fibers that support the elective so protective intestinal microflora. These soluble fibers are pectin or oligosaccharides fruit extracts, vegetables or cereals. Fermented by the microflora of protection, they produce volatile fatty acids that strengthen the barrier effect against pathogenic bacteria. Consumption of prebiotic fiber restores the balance of microflora and improve intestinal transit.
The probiotic bacteria consisting primarily of the genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Propionibacterium oppose the proliferation of microflora putrefying too common in the modern diet (diet rich in animal protein), which is manifested by the production of malodorous gases from waste harmful to the colon mucosa (irritation, and chronic inflammation, and malignant) and compounds (amines, nitrosamines) toxic to the liver. Probiotics also have a preventive and remedial allergies (though many now) acting on immunity through the intestine which is the central regulator.
The combination of a more balanced diet, prebiotics and probiotics, will gradually reduce the hypermeability the intestinal mucosa and the passage of macromolecules and bacterial food “foul” or “irritate” the organization. This is the best way to deal thoroughly and naturally all these chronic diseases continue to invade us.
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