What makes lactic acid bacteria good for us ?

What makes lactic acid bacteria good for us ？

There are around one hundred trillion bacteria living in our intestines. They represent between 100 and 500 species, and altogether they weigh around one kilogram. A number like one hundred trillion can be difficult to grasp, but consider this: it is around 14,000 times larger than the human population worldwide (assuming a global population of seven billion). Moreover, there are an almost infinite variety of bacterial species; even pairs of identical human twins differ in the balance of their intestinal bacteria.

The medical term for these bacteria is enterobacteria. Enterobacteria can be categorized as good bacteria, bad bacteria and opportunistic bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria are good bacteria which play a positive role in the intestines. Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria produce lactic acid, maintaining acidic conditions in the intestines and creating an environment that is inhospitable to bad bacteria, germs and viruses.

What’s more, the lactic acid and acetic acid produced by lactic acid bacteria stimulate the large intestine, promoting healthy peristaltic contractions and encouraging bowel movements. In addition to lactic and acetic acid, lactic acid bacteria produce a variety of other useful substances. These include B vitamins. The B vitamins move from the intestinal tract to the inner layers of the skin, nourishing damaged, unhealthy cells and encouraging cell division.

So, as you can see, the lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria in our intestines play an important role in keeping us healthy.