Living in a country like India which is home to one fifth of the world’s population, one can only help worry about the state of health and nutrition of the country. According to data on nutrition, despite economic growth in the last few years in India, 14 per cent of the population of India is malnourished, writes Neerja Hajela.
Hajela has completed her Masters in Microbiology and Ph.D. in Biotechnology; and is Head of Science and Regulatory Affairs, Yakult Danone India Pvt Ltd. She also says:
More than 30 percent of children under the age of five are stunted and more than 50 percent of children, young girls, and women are anemic (malnutrition of iron and other essential minerals, and vitamins in the body). In addition to malnutrition, dietary and lifestyle changes in obesity are a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that 19 percent of men and 21 percent of obese women and 73 million adults affected by diabetes.
There is no quick fix to this frightening problem. It would just mean looking at health and nutrition in a more holistic way to ensure better quality and quantity of food and a healthy lifestyle. However, nutrition loses its meaning if the food we eat is not taken up by the body. Therefore, the best of the food we eat can only be obtained if the intestine is healthy.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken us and what looks right into our face is the connection between food and immunity to help us be protected. This is when the role of the gut becomes very important not only for digesting food but also for absorbing the nutrients that stimulate immunity from them.
It is this important organ that is the site for digesting food and absorbing the nutrients of the most neglected so it is not surprising that more than half of the population of India suffers from poor muscle health. This leads us to consider whether there may be a link between nutrition and intestinal health.
The importance of intestinal health has also gone into scientific communication by understanding that the intestine is the largest immune organ and the health of the intestine depends on those bacteria that are essential for its function. They have the magical power of determining intestinal health, so making sure the bacteria are good in higher numbers, is essential for a well-functioning gut.
Probiotic foods are specifically designed to boost the good bacteria in the womb and keep it healthy. Consumption of some probiotic foods has been linked to the absorption of micronutrients such as calcium and iron from non-woven foods. Interestingly, studies conducted on children and young women in India showed that the intake of fortified milk with probiotics and prebiotics significantly improved the status of iron. In some cases, probiotic bacteria can produce group B vitamins that are easily destroyed by cooking and so a large proportion of the population suffers from a deficiency of this important vitamin. Probiotic vitamin B agents may help fight the deficiency.
It is an unfortunate fact that 13 million children under the age of 5 suffer from severe malnutrition (SAM) and 1-2 million die each year. Such children have poor intestinal health, an underdeveloped immune system and suffer from long-term health effects. Studies using probiotics in Indian children have shown that certain probiotics can reduce the frequency of diarrhea and thus prevent the loss of vitamins and minerals.
Pregnant women are among the most neglectful group but have the greatest nutritional requirement. They often suffer from digestive disorders and are unable to get the most benefit from foods that lead to a deficiency of iron, zinc, folic acid, and iodine. Such women often have premature babies and low birth weight. It has been strongly proven that some scientifically proven probiotics can promote overall health during pregnancy and may be a useful addition to the diet regimen.
It is estimated that many people in many countries will be over the age of 65 than those under the age of five. Aging leads to gastrointestinal problems and poor digestive and immune health. Studies have shown that certain probiotics can improve the health of older people by reducing inflammation, increasing good bacteria, and thus improving digestion and immunity.
Overall, consuming probiotics is an effective and easy way to improve your intestinal health to maximize the amount of nutrients from foods. Definitely worth a try for this intervention.