Gastroenteritis and enterocolitis are a common problem in summer. Acute diarrhoea and vomiting can cause serious discomfort and dehydration, and spoil our rest during the summer holidays and the children's school break.
WHY DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN PRECISELY WHEN WE WANT TO BE RELAXED, TO REST AND TO HAVE FUN
- The reason for the increase in gastrointestinal infections in summer is the high air temperatures, which create an extremely favourable environment for the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria, especially in food.
- Summer gastrointestinal infections are mainly bacterial, but viruses are also a frequent cause.
During the summer holidays people prefer eating out at restaurants and street food outlets, where the storage conditions for products may not meet the requirements. As a result, it is very likely that the food on offer is bacterially contaminated. This can become a precondition for the spread of intestinal infections. When we eat out, we may not be able to tell by the taste or smell that the products have gone off, while they may already contain multiplying bacteria, enough to cause a range of health problems.
- Another possible source of infection may be not washing hands regularly before eating.
- Bathing in pools with contaminated water is also a factor that contributes to falling ill easily.
Once they enter the body, pathogenic bacteria multiply, causing various unpleasant symptoms. The greater the number of bacteria, the more pronounced the symptoms of stomach upsets.
It is important to know that the number of pathogenic bacteria can be controlled by the probiotic bacteria in the gut as well as by the immune system.
So let us not forget that gastrointestinal infections most often occur after:
• Consumption of contaminated food products
• Drinking water from questionable water sources;
• Consumption of meat, eggs or milk from sick animals and birds that have not been sufficiently heat-treated (in the case of salmonella);
• Consumption of improperly stored foods (outside the refrigerator) and foods past their expiry date;
• Consumption of poorly washed fruit and vegetables.
Let us recall the symptoms that can spoil our summer
• Fever, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, headache.
• At a later stage, or at the same time as these complaints, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea appear. The duration is usually 1-3 days, but complications and a much longer and more severe course of the infection are possible, with dehydration and a serious deterioration of the general condition.
• The most common bacterial causes of summer stomach upsets are Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, non-typhoidal Salmonella, for example S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium.
To deal with certain bacterial infections, and at a doctor's discretion, antibiotic treatment is applied.
The danger, however, comes from the possibility of pathogens developing resistance to the treatment applied (no response to a subsequent course of antibiotics).
But even more importantly, restoring the proper intestinal flora after such therapy is a long and difficult process, and returning the body to a normal general condition becomes considerably more complicated.
That is why PROBIOTICS are an indispensable part of fully overcoming these problems.
Let us not forget the simple recommendations that apply every summer
• Washing fruit and vegetables intended for raw consumption under running water;
• Mandatory hand washing with soap when preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet;
• Proper refrigerated storage of food products, especially those of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs), and thorough heat treatment when preparing them;
• Not using polluted bodies of water for sport, fishing or bathing;
• Not drinking water from questionable water sources;
• Not consuming tinned goods and foods past their expiry date
• Increasing the intake of PROBIOTICS to support the body when consuming contaminated food and drinks.
We can deal with this danger simply by being careful and forward-thinking. And perhaps the most sensible thing would be to add a PROBIOTIC to our luggage when travelling, because a balanced intestinal flora promotes the normal functioning of the stomach and intestines.
Prophylaxis with PROBIOTICS helps the body prevent the development of symptoms that would get in the way of a proper rest.
Adding PROBIOTICS to the diet, especially during these risky periods, strengthens the body from within and helps us stay healthy and at ease.
PROBIOTICS are the good bacteria which, by multiplying in the gut, enable the body to function properly.
If we are careful during the summer holidays, keep good hygiene habits and watch where and what we eat, we can cope with the growing danger of summer stomach problems.
THE MOST NATURAL WAY TO ENSURE A CAREFREE AND SAFE SUMMER IS THE RIGHT PROBIOTIC
To choose the right probiotic that will help your body cope with the challenges of hot weather, it is important to check:
• What strain it contains,
• Whether there is evidence of the benefits of its use,
• To what extent stabilisers, flavourings and other chemical agents were used in its production.
• Lactobacillus Bulgaricus GLB 44 is a strain isolated from the Bulgarian snowdrop and grown in a completely organic, vegan medium: vegetable juice.
It can be beneficial for people suffering from allergies to milk and dairy products, as well as for people with gluten intolerance.
• Lactobacillus Bulgaricus GLB 44 has been studied in the laboratories of Harvard, where it showed in vitro inhibitory activity against certain microorganisms that cause gastrointestinal disorders.
• Lactobacillus Bulgaricus GLB 44 is larger in size than most other probiotic bacteria, survives more easily and synthesises powerful bacteriocins.
• Its production uses no chemical agents or other stabilising ingredients that are traditionally used in the industry
Look for a PROBIOTIC that is completely harmless and very useful when the body meets the challenges of summer.
*This material is for information purposes and cannot replace a consultation with a doctor.