Gut Health In The Over 50s

By Author: Sadhana
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Why is a healthy gut important?

A healthy gut is essential as it absorbs essential nutrients and helps keep the body nourished. It plays an important role in general health and well-being and supports the immune system to help fight illness and infection.

How is gut health affected by age?

A healthy gut contains trillions of bacteria - with a positive balance between ‘good' and ‘bad' bacteria.
Levels of gut flora, in particular beneficial bifidobacteria naturally decline as we age, making us much more vulnerable to digestive disorders and infection as the balance between good and bad bacteria is disrupted.

In addition to this, the digestive system is often subjected to foods, stresses and other obstacles that aren't good for the body's overall health. The following can also have a negative effect on gut health and the body's immune defences:

stress
poor diet
travelling

How can the over 50s improve their gut health and regain a more youthful immune system?

A prebiotic supplement is recommended for the over 50s. Prebiotics enhance the levels of ...
... bifidobacteria in the colon and have a beneficial impact on gut flora. They can counteract the decline in elderly people's health by helping to boost the immune system and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disorders, and infections such as colds and flu.

What role do prebiotics play?

Prebiotic supplements have been scientifically formulated to target beneficial gut bacteria, enabling the digestive system to maintain healthy levels of gut flora.

Prebiotics are non-digestible foods that make their way through our digestive system and help good bacteria grow and flourish. Prebiotics feed the existing beneficial bacteria and keep them healthy, so the balance within the gut is maintained. Prebiotics are not destroyed, digested or absorbed in the upper GI tract and therefore reach the gut where our good bacteria reside and so can contribute fully in promoting their effectiveness.

Find out more information on: Gut Health

Get more information on: Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome