Microbiota Universe: Discover the powers of your digestive system

Experts from the world of wellness and health meet again in a unique and essential space to take better care of ourselves and live better, and with a responsible commitment to the planet. Mercedes-EQ Welife Festival returns to Madrid this fall after the success of last year, and it does so concentrating on the weekend of October 22 and 23to national and international experts and references who will talk to us about well-being, health, self-esteem, sustainability, spirituality… Two unique days where we will be able, among other things, to learn more about our body and how to take better care of it, and this will be thanks to presentations such as the of the Dr. Gómez Senent, expert in microbiota.

microbiota universe

Silvia G. Senent is a doctor of the digestive system and digestive assistant at the La Paz Hospital in Madrid. She is a professor of the Microbiota Master at the European University of Madrid and director and professor of the Expert course in Intestinal Permeability at the Francisco de Vitoria University.. She is the author of the book microbiota universe. In the book, Dr. Senent tells the story of two friends, Marta and Roberto. Through these characters we discover what is the microbiota and what does intestinal permeability consist ofhow they are related to certain diseases and what factors can affect the intestinal flora such as diet, mindfulness or exercise.

“If you suffer from pain and take many treatments aimed at the joints, the skin or the brain, the cause may be in the intestine,” explains the expert. What she does with her patients in teach them how to improve their digestive health so that they can improve their quality of life.

What is the microbiota?

The microbiota, or intestinal flora, is the set of bacteria that colonize the digestive system. This microbial ecosystem of the intestine has original or native species, which are the ones that permanently populate the intestinal tract and, on the other hand, a series of microorganisms that vary and live temporarily in the intestine. The original ones are acquired at birth and in the first year of life naturally, while the variables will reach the intestine through elements such as food or drink.

Among its functions, the intestinal microbiota has mainly that of nutrition and metabolism, thanks to these bacteria our body acquires the necessary nutrients from the food we eat and is also involved in the absorption of calcium and iron in the colon and produces vitamins. On the other hand it has a protective function against infectious pathogens and controls the production of species that can become potentially dangerous to health. One of its most important functions is to strengthen and modulate the immune systemthat is why it is essential to know how to take care of the microbiota since its alteration is related to the appearance of some diseases.

Microbiota and immune system

We already know that the human intestine houses a large and varied community of bacteria that maintain a symbiotic relationship with their human host, which means that their state permanently influences the health of the individual. If our interaction with these bacteria is not correct, a failure or alteration occurs which can affect health. In other words, we have to be good hosts so that our guests are happy and take good care of the house. Otherwise, immune responses may arise against their own structures, such as autoimmunity in autoimmune diseases, causing the intestinal flora itself to be damaged, giving rise to intestinal inflammation, an inflammatory bowel disease or antigenic reactions to the environment, resulting in atopy or allergies.

Taking proper care of our microbiota will help us prevent these health problems and, if they have already arisen, eliminate or minimize the associated symptoms. It can even help you lose weight and ward off colds. Does health then begin with the gut? They call the gut the second brain for a reason.

More functions of your intestinal flora

Can the microbiota really be involved in weight control? Clearly yes, why? Because has the ability to regulate blood glucose levelsa factor that is key when it comes to preventing diabetes and treating overweight problems such as obesity.

Our host bacteria are also involved in the production of the appetite hormone, ghrelinand in that of satiety, leptinbut it is also related to the absorption of fats, inflammation and intestinal permeability that is common in autoimmune diseases.

Some of the microorganisms that live in our intestine are beneficial but others are not. To know more about this topic, how to feed the good bacteria and get rid of the bad ones, how to take care of our digestive system, how to avoid intestinal permeability and how to correctly treat our microbiota to maintain good health and improve our quality of life, do not miss the essential presentation of the Dra. Gómez Senent this October at the Mercedes-EQ Welife Festival, a unique opportunity to improve your overall well-being. Your gut, and your overall health, will thank you. We will wait for you!