Obesity and if it was a matter of gut flora?

We know obesity is a multifactorial disease.

One of the possible causes is currently the subject of much research: the composition of our intestinal flora.

Intestinal flora which encourages obese to eat more?

A landmark study on the subject was published in 2010 in the journal Science (1). It focused on mice whose intestines had been genetically engineered and housed accordingly more bacteria than normal.

Result: mice unbalanced intestinal flora were heavier than the others, and ate 10% more if they had the chance. This effect was accompanied by the classic signs of the metabolic syndrome: hypertension, elevated blood lipids, glucose, resistance to insulin.

They were also more markers of inflammation, which is, for authors, perhaps the key phenomenon. When the cells of the organism must respond to inflammation, they are in fact less available to regulate the level of sugar in the blood. But this rate is important for the regulation of appetite!

How to rebalance our intestinal flora to fight against overweight and obesity?

The study is very preliminary and needs to be confirmed by other studies. Doctors are far from being able to draw practical lessons for the fight against obesity in humans.

However, it is not the only argument that makes us uneflore promote intestinal well balanced. The bacteria found in our gut are indeed important for our transit is harmonious. They are also part of our line of defense against infections ...

So bet on probiotics!

Thus, we call all the bacteria that we swallow and that will have a positive effect on our health.

You can find easily in capsule form, or in some foods - yogurt or other fermented milk products. This second solution is often the most effective, since Probiotics are living organisms that must remain until your gut to take effect.

Now sold as dietary supplements, probiotics are first dried and then stored for several months on the shelves ... It is easier to ensure their survival in a yogurt that is one of their natural habitats and to be eaten days.