Bacteria

Bacteria are the cause of numerous severe diseases for our organism, they can be spread very easily between people, which often leads to some of them causing great panic among the population, as they are the cause of many deaths per year. However, it is important to know that not all bacteria are harmful to our body, in fact in our intestinal flora we host numerous bacteria, among which lactobacilli and bifidobacteria stand out, which are very useful during the digestive processes.

In this guide we will go into the study of some basic aspects about bacteria, paying special attention to lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in their interaction with the digestive processes of the human body.

Definition

Bacteria belong to the group of prokaryotes, they are microorganisms that may or may not have a locomotion system. It is estimated that bacteria are the most abundant organisms on the planet, due to their capacity to develop in practically any climate or habitat.

They fulfill a very useful ecological function, since they participate in the natural chemical and biological cycles of recycling terrestrial organic matter.

The human body is full of bacteria, there are more bacterial cells than human, this gives us a dimension of the magnitude of this type of organism and the constant interrelation existing with the human organism and the environment that surrounds it.

Lactobacilli

Lactobacilli are a type of bacteria considered benign, that is, they do not cause damage to the human organism. These bacteria are found inside our body and are necessary during the processes of food decomposition. They can be found in the gastrointestinal tract and the urinary and genital systems.

Lactobacilli are essential to combat the appearance of pathogens or harmful bacteria for our organism, this is due to the natural acidification of their environment, which generates a hostile scenario towards harmful pathogens. They can be used in the production of foods that require a certain degree of fermentation such as cheese.

Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria are another type of bacteria of great need for the human organism, especially when it comes to digestion. They are so called because of their bifid or Y-shaped structure. They are anaerobic microorganisms, which means that they need the inexistence of oxygen in their habitat in order to develop. The high presence of this type of bacteria is nowadays considered a sign of good intestinal health, especially in primary ages.

Bifidobacteria can be commonly found in the mouth and intestine. Their presence usually decreases with age, and we find that newborns who are consuming breast