• May 3, 2024

The prevalence of childhood obesity in Mexico is 36.9%, but only in the Federal District this figure rises to 55% in men and 45% in women, according to figures from the National Health Survey.

However, this problem of public importance could be prevented with the regular consumption of probiotics, essential to strengthen the intestinal microbiota better conicity as intestinal flora.

Ana Isabel Burguete, specialist of the Institute of Public Health , indicates that in the intestinal microbiota there is an average of 100 thousand microorganisms, 10 times more than cells in the human body.

The importance of these organisms lies in their ability to synthesize important elements for life: vitamin K and folic acid. In addition, they can influence the weight of children and adults.

Burguete pointed out at the opening of the international symposium "Human Intestinal Microbiota in Health and Disease" , which was supported by the Danone Institute of Mexico, that the microbiota regulates the storage of energy that is consumed and spent. Depending on the type of bacteria that predominates in the stomach, it will be the immune and metabolism response, since obesity is a disease of metabolic and inflammatory disorder.

In addition to obesity, the intestinal flora can affect even personality and mood of people and also in recurrent diseases such as diarrhea, mentions Teresa Abreu gastroenterologist endoscopist Mexican Social Security Institute.

How to improve your intestinal microbiota?

To achieve it is necessary to integrate a dose of probiotics into your diet, which you can obtain through two sources, according to Miguel Ángel Valdovinos , Boss of Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory of the National Institute of Nutrition :

1. Food or supplements: Yogurt, cheeses and jocoque.

2. Medicines.

Probiotics are living agents, which must be ingested in that state so they can be beneficial to the body. For example, yogurt is preferable if it is consumed cold and the expiration date is not so close.

The intestinal microbiota, and the organisms that are found in it, regulate body functions, but they are not the cause of obesity, here factors such as bad habits of life are mixed: sedentary lifestyle, poor diet or genetics.

Remember, only you can take care of your health!

Video Medicine: 5 tips to keep your gut microbiome healthy | UCLA Health Newsroom (May 2024).