Our intestine is populated with  microorganisms of different species such as bacteria, fungi, viruses.

There are some benefits for our health, others harmless, others potentially pathogenic ( Candida for example), but we need them all.

They form what is called intestinal flora or better Microbiota, a real organ that weighs about 1.5 kg.

Without them we cannot live  as they degrade polysaccharides such as cellulose and produce fatty acids, oligosaccharides and vitamins , as well as intervening in the regulation of the intestinal barrier.

Even a slight imbalance can cause discomfort or real diseases : we speak of dysbiosis.

Intestine and dysbiosis: what link?

Dysbiosis of the intestine is defined as an alteration of the qualitative and quantitative balance of the bacterial strains present .

Normally the microbiota is composed of about a thousand different species of microorganisms whose total number amounts to about 10 followed by 16 zeros (difficult even to imagine …). For each of us the type and number of species present is different from the others and specific. Just like fingerprints.

However, when an imbalance occurs, for internal or external reasons (do not take antibiotics “at random” …), or when one population prevails over others that decrease in number, we speak of intestinal dysbiosis .

Dysbiosis is not a disease in itself, but it can increase the likelihood of other diseases occurring , or in more sensitive individuals it can give annoying symptoms .

The main symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis are:

> Abdominal swelling ;

> constipation or diarrhea ;

> exhaustion and feeling of malaise;

> mood and sleep disturbances ;

> recurrent candida infections or cystitis .

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Intestine and dysbiosis: what implications?

Given the close link between the intestine and the whole body, the consequences of intestinal dysbiosis on the whole organism can also be quite severe .

Below is a mention of the most frequent:

> general increase in susceptibility to infections, such as colds and cystitis, candidiasis, tonsillitis, etc. ; 

> loss of energy, chronic fatigue ;

> difficulty losing weight;

> hair loss.

Any change in the balance of the intestinal bacterial population (dysbiosis) affects the onset and progress of even the most severe pathologies such as allergies, inflammatory, cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies.

Intestine and dysbiosis: what causes?

The main causes of intestinal dysbiosis are to be found above all in lifestyle and eating habits , including for example an unbalanced diet with an abundance of industrial products, or bad and too fast chewing .

These are the main causes of intestinal dysbiosis:

> incorrect eating habits;

> stressful lifestyle ;

> smoke;

> alcohol;

> excessive use of drugs (especially laxatives and antibiotics, but not only);

> altered sleep-wake cycle : unrefreshing sleep or night work shifts;

> high air pollution with heavy metals .

In relation to the triggering principle, three main forms of dysbiosis are distinguished:

1.  Deficiency dysbiosis : it is caused by a decrease in the intestinal bacterial flora population , often as a result of a diet low in soluble fiber and rich in preserved foods.
2.  Putrefactive dysbiosis : is caused by a diet rich in fat and meat but low in fiber .
3. Fermentative dysbiosis : it is mainly caused by a diet too rich in insoluble fibers that are not digested or assimilated but are used by a series of bacteria to carry out fermentation processes.