The gut microbiome is disrupted daily by many factors. Simple everyday habits, such as smoking and/or excessive alcohol consumption, negatively affect the populations of beneficial microorganisms in the gut.
Diet is another crucial factor, as the overconsumption of animal products and sugar, combined with reduced intake of dietary fiber, can cause an imbalance in the gut microbiome.
Diet can also indirectly affect the gut microbiome through the amount of antibiotics and pesticides that enter the body from animal and plant-based foods, respectively. Additionally, the amount of chlorine in water also negatively affects the gut microflora.
There is considerable interest, especially in recent years, regarding environmental pollution and how it affects all aspects of health, including the balance of the gut microbiome.
Finally, physical and mental stress, as well as aging, are two more crucial factors for the populations of the gut microbiome.
All of the above can create conditions of dysbiosis in the gut microbiome and cause symptoms of the gastrointestinal system or other disturbances, sometimes mild and sometimes more severe.
Supplementation with probiotics to support the gut microbiome and ensure the smooth functioning of the gut is essential on a daily basis, even without obvious symptoms.
