Intestinal infection can lead to chronic symptoms: Here are ways to keep your gut healthy
Sometimes an intestinal infection like the traveler’s diarrhea, can cause development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) ,
a chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Scientists aren’t sure
exactly how this happens, but some think an infection may contribute to
IBS by damaging the gut nervous system.
The researchers explain – in a healthy gut, the immune system must strike a careful balance between responding to threats and keeping that response in check to avoid damage. “Inflammation helps the gut ward off an infection, but too much of it can cause lasting harm,” said study researcher Daniel Mucida, Associate Professor at Rockefeller University in the US. The finding is published in the journal Cell.
Ways to keep your gut healthy
If you have a healthy gut, you’re less likely to experience damaging inflammation. So here are some ways to keep your gut healthy.Eat ‘healthy gut’ foods
The food you eat will not only provide nutrients to you, but it will also feed the trillions of bacteria that live in your gut. Eat more fibre-rich foods. Fruit, vegetables, pulses, nuts and wholegrains feed healthy bacteria provides the fibre that builds good bacteria and overall gut health.Other ‘healthy gut’ foods include probiotic foods like live yoghurt, kefir, some cheeses and fermented or pickled foods (such as kimchi, sauerkraut and pickled ginger). Avoid eating highly processed foods, as they can suppress ‘good’ bacteria or increase ‘bad’ bacteria.