On January 29, 2021, the "live digital event by" laFeltrinelli "organized in collaboration with the Fondazione Istituto Danone, was the occasion to remember the role of the microbiota as an ally of well-being and how important it is to take care of it.
One year after the launch of the book "Microbiota: The" invisible friend for your well-being at all ages "published by Gribaudo, the theme of remise en forme was studied in depth, starting from the consideration of how the microbiota was influenced from the change in our lifestyle in the last period spent in lockdown.
The experts of the Fondazione Istituto Danone took part in the live streaming:
- Professor Lorenzo Morelli, microbiologist and lecturer at the Catholic University of Piacenza;
- Doctor Michele Sculati, specialist in Food Science;
- Professor Michelangelo Giampietro, specialist in Sports Medicine.
The event moderated by Annalisa Manduca together with Federico Mereta, scientific journalist curator of the volume and member of the Scientific Committee of the Danone Institute Foundation, provided interesting advice, indications and recipes of our national tradition to start putting into practice the fundamental strategies for feeling fit, "training" the microbiota.
The "fil rouge" is obviously the volume, unique of its kind, which collects the expertise of specialists from different branches to offer an organic perspective on what is known today about the flora that populates our organism. As underlined several times during the meeting, knowledge of science and nutrition on the subject can help us make the right choices for our health.
Watchword Detox
One of the keys to getting back into shape is to ensure balance in the population of the bacteria that live in our intestine and perform an innumerable series of functions, collaborating to produce enzymes and substances essential for the body and facilitating psychophysical well-being.
During the complex period we are experiencing, also thanks to the lack of physical activity and the "hangover" of holiday binges, the microbiota was inevitably influenced by the change in our lifestyle. Talking about detox, understood as a desire to expel the negative toxins of a difficult year, is a way to start over in a positive way to promote our well-being.
Fit thanks to an invisible friend: the Microbiota
In the bacterial "megalopolis" that is our digestive system, the microbiota is a microscopic army of support for the whole organism. This complex of microorganisms live physiologically in symbiosis with our body and carry out some important activities in favor of health.
"Train" the Microbiota with Nutrition and Physical Activity
Nutrition is essential for the well-being of our microbiota: "feeding it" correctly means helping us to feel good. A great help comes from probiotics, live microorganisms that reach, rebalance and support the intestinal flora, helping to maintain its well-being and physiological functions . Probiotics are found in fermented foods (eg kefir, tempeh and sauerkraut), in added yogurt and in some dairy products. Prebiotics, ie non-digestible substances of food origin that promote growth, also participate in the development and balance of the microbiota. and the activity of one or more good bacteria, already present in the intestine or taken with the probiotic. Examples of prebiotics are artichokes, chicory, beans and onions.
Physical activity reserves numerous benefits for the microbiota, especially after a year of mainly domestic life. In addition to having important effects for many functions of the organism and psychological health, movement allows an exchange of information on the muscle-intestine axis. This process is not only useful for the efficiency of muscular work, but it promotes the synthesis of molecules, antioxidants and substances with a positive effect that improve intestinal function and assist the immune system from external aggressions. The advice is, therefore, to move as much as possible: take the stairs on foot, try not to spend too much time at the desk, dance at home or use elastic bands to perform small daily exercises that help to stay in shape.
Ideas for creating the "For the Happy Belly" Weekly Menu
The event was also an opportunity to provide some specific indications on which recipes of regional cuisine and simple traditional ingredients, used in our daily life, allow us to nourish the microbiota in a healthy way. Recalling the important concept that varying and diversifying what you eat is always the basis, the Tuscan ribollita, pasta with chickpeas and pizza with double tomato sauce were mentioned.Moroccan coffee (with a sprinkling of cocoa) or traditional coffee with a square of chocolate, extra virgin olive oil and one of the bases of the recipes that we often consume every day also contain substances useful for the microbiota: sautéed. Excellent for the microbiota. Even the Brassicaceae, including cauliflower, turnip and cabbage, and legumes.
