THE MICROBIOME
The microbiome is the set of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, yeasts) living in our body. A human being is made up of an average of 100,000 billion bacteria, which represents approximately 2kg of our total weight. The balance of our microbiome is essential to our health and to preserve the beauty of our skin.
Where are the bacteria located?
Our bacteria are mainly gathered in the intestines, which we now know play a major role in maintaining our immune system. We speak of intestinal microbiota or intestinal flora to define the bacteria located in this area.
We also find bacteria on our skin, which is called skin microbiota or skin flora.
Finally, women have bacteria in their vaginas. This is the vaginal flora, which is essential for the health of infants!
But what are these bacteria for?
The majority of these bacteria are good bacteria. They have several functions: they help us digest, make vitamins, protect us from disease. They even act on our brain and therefore our mood. Their role is to protect our body and our skin from external aggressions. When our microbiome is balanced we are healthy. In case of imbalance, appear diseases, sensitive skin, redness, irritation.
However, we now know that our microbiome is weakened by our contemporary way of life. According to a recent study*, in the West, 1 in 4 individuals out of 100 people studied have an impoverished microbiome.
It is therefore very important to strengthen our microbiome to stay healthy and maintain beautiful and healthy skin.
What are the factors that can unbalance our microbiome?
Antibiotics, a diet that is both low in fiber and high in chemical preservatives, caesarean sections and the use of cosmetic products with harmful ingredients are the 4 factors implicated in the weakening of our microbiome.
1. ANTIBIOTICS:
BIO means LIFE in Latin. ANTI-BIO-TICS (anti-LIFE) kill everything in their path. Both good and bad bacteria, and some good bacteria, never regenerate after taking antibiotics. However, their consumption has been increasing over the last 60 years. Taking too many antibiotics, especially in young children, can therefore weaken our microbiome.
2. A DIET RICH IN CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES AND LOW IN FIBER:
A study on mice has shown that a diet rich in additives causes the impoverishment of the microbiome. Yet millions of people consume additives in industrial food every day.
The average French person consumes 4kg of additives per year!
Fiber is food for our good bacteria. The less we consume, the less we feed our bacteria and the more fragile we are.
3. COSMETIC PRODUCTS WITH HARMFUL INGREDIENTS:
Chemical preservatives are antibacterial. As their name suggests, they kill bacteria, good or bad, weakening our skin microbiota. On the other hand, an acidic pH naturally helps protect the skin from bad bacteria. However, most of the cosmetics and hygiene products that we consume have an alkaline pH, which encourages the growth of bad bacteria. Soaps, for example, have a pH of 10!
It is therefore necessary and urgent to preserve our microbiome through a healthy diet, a good lifestyle and the use of healthy cosmetic products enriched with prebiotics and probiotics.
Our tips for maintaining a balanced microbiome:
Adopt a healthy lifestyle!
1. A DIET RICH IN FIBER:
Some researchers are talking about 25 fruits and vegetables per week to restore an unbalanced flora.
2. A DIET RICH IN PROBIOTIC STRAINS:
Opt for fermented drinks or foods such as yogurts, olives, pickles, kombucha, kefir, kimcha, etc.
3. SUPPLEMENTATION IN MICROBIOTIC STRAINS:
This type of supplementation can be provided via food supplements rich in pre&probiotics such as those from DEMAIN®.
4. COSMETICS THAT RESPECT YOUR SKIN MICROBIOTA:
This is the choice we made with DEMAIN® with products with 100% natural formulas, without chemical preservatives, enriched with pre&probiotics and with a PH close to 4 to best preserve your body and your skin!
Discover our food supplements:
