Nourish your intestines, improve allergies and enhance immunity! In addition to probiotics and vitamin C, eat beta-glucan to enhance intestinal bacteria

The new coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) epidemic is spreading. If you want to stay away from the threat of the virus, improving your own immunity is the key! In particular, the first step to improving immunity is to maintain a healthy intestine! In addition to probiotics, vitamins A, B complex, C, and E that can take care of the intestines, appropriate supplementation of β-glucans can also help improve immunity.

70% of the human immune cells are found in the intestines

There is a saying that "diseases enter through the mouth". If the food is not clean, it may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and other problems when it enters the intestines. Therefore, the immune ability of the intestine is very important to health, because the intestine is on the front line and is also the largest immune organ of the human body. The intestinal mucosa is the first line of defense for the intestine, and the immune cells inside are the second line of defense. The intestinal mucosa can block undigested protein molecules, toxins, bacteria, mold, etc. from entering the body and excreting them through feces; while the second line of defense immune cells can fight against bacterial invasion. 70% of the immune cells in the human body are found in the intestines. Therefore, maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria in the intestines is the key to regulating the body's inflammatory response and immunity.

70% of the immune cells in the human body are found in the intestines. Therefore, maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria in the intestines is the key to regulating the body's inflammatory response and immunity.

But if you want to create a good intestinal environment, in addition to the well-known method of eating yogurt or yogurt, which can supplement probiotics and avoid the invasion of pathogenic bacteria; in addition, moderate supplementation of vitamins A, B group, C, E and various minerals commonly found in dark green vegetables is also necessary nutrients for the immune system.

In addition, a lesser-known substance is β-glucan, which is widely found in various fungi and plants, such as shiitake mushrooms, ganoderma lucidum, oats, and the super barley that has attracted attention recently. It is not only rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, but the β-glucan it contains also helps to improve immunity.

Properly supplementing the intestines with beneficial bacteria, such as eating yogurt or yogurt, can help resist foreign pathogens.

Probiotics, prebiotic sources

The main reason for intestinal diseases is the imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria. Therefore, properly supplementing the intestines with beneficial bacteria will help resist foreign pathogens. There are many types of probiotics, the most common ones include: Lactobacillus (commonly known as A bacteria), Bifidobacterium (commonly known as B bacteria), yeast and Bifidobacterium, etc. In daily life, foods containing probiotics include cheese, yogurt, kimchi, etc. However, probiotics alone are not enough. It is also necessary to supplement with substances that can promote the growth of probiotics - "prebiotics" (commonly known as prebiotics), including: oligosaccharides, brewer's yeast and dietary fiber are the main prebiotics.

Current research shows that dietary fiber is a major source of prebiotics, and dietary fiber is divided into two types: water-soluble and water-insoluble. Water-soluble dietary fiber can not only serve as nutrition for beneficial bacteria in the human intestine, but also improve the flora in the intestine. The short-chain fatty acids produced by beneficial bacteria after absorbing water-soluble dietary fiber can strengthen the intestinal barrier and increase the permeability of the intestine to nutrients, thereby helping intestinal health and enhancing the body's immune ability. Water-soluble dietary fiber, due to its water absorption, can also help form stool, improve constipation, promote gastrointestinal motility, and retain sugar and cholesterol in food in the intestine, preventing a sharp rise in blood sugar and lowering blood cholesterol.

Vitamin A, B complex, C

Vitamin A can maintain the health of mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, mouth, lungs and gastrointestinal tract, and prevent invasion of bacteria and viruses. B2, B5 (also known as pantothenic acid), B6 ​​and folic acid are related to maintaining the health of cell mucosa and producing antibodies and other immune functions. Vitamin C can stimulate the body to produce interferon to destroy viruses and enhance immunity, which is very important for preventing influenza, upper respiratory tract infections, etc.

β-glucan is widely found in various fungi and plants, such as barley, oats, shiitake mushrooms and Ganoderma lucidum, and is the main active substance that exerts their health-care effects.

β-Glucan

Glucan is a polysaccharide that exists in the mucus secreted by certain microorganisms during their growth process. Among glucans, β-glucan is the most physiologically active. Beta-glucan may help the body fight upper respiratory tract infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses. β-glucan is widely found in various fungi and plants, such as barley, oats, shiitake mushrooms and Ganoderma lucidum, and is the main active substance that exerts their health-care effects.

Nutritionist Song Minghua said that in recent years, the benefits of beta-glucan in barley, such as lowering cholesterol and improving immunity, have also led to the attention of oatmeal. The water-soluble fiber in barley is different from that in oats, which only exists in the outer bran, but is distributed throughout the grain. There is now a functional cereal super barley that is rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, which is twice that of ordinary barley and can help improve the intestinal environment.

【Health Tips】:

Finally, a reminder that in addition to supplementing good bacteria and whole grains, a balanced and diversified diet is the best way to increase immunity. It is recommended to eat 2 to 3 bowls of various vegetables and 2 to 3 fist-sized fruits of different kinds a day to absorb the rich vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in them. At the same time, get enough sleep and regular exercise, which are the only way to keep your body healthy.