How Probiotics Reduce Inflammation

"The world is lousy with pathogens, from viruses to bacteria and parasites. They see humans as a tasty morsel. Our skin is tough and repels them easily until we get a cut. Then a world of microbes swarms in, leading to the familiar swelling, pain, and redness of an infection. That is a clear sign that your immune system is fighting the intruders. The dead combatants from both sides pile up, creating pus, a visible residue of the sacrifices made by the immune system."

"The gut Skin is great for the outside, but inside our intestines, the story is different. Our gut is lined with a ridiculously delicate layer of cells constantly battered by the pathogens that hitch a ride with each bite of food. Unlike our skin, gut tissue must be thin enough to let nutrients in while still keeping bacteria out. It's a tricky job."

Inflammation underlies neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. The immune system comprises diverse cells that detect and eliminate disease-causing pathogens found abundantly in the environment. Skin provides a tough external barrier, while the intestines require a thin epithelial layer to absorb nutrients yet repel microbes. Mucus coats the gut, offering a physical barrier and a nutrient source for resident probiotic microbes. Dietary fiber feeds these microbes, preventing them from consuming the mucus layer. Probiotic bacteria are tolerated by the immune system after early-life training; failure of that tolerance can lead to chronic immune problems. Probiotics, often yogurt-derived, modulate immune activity as they transit the gut.

Read at Psychology Today