Between the effects of disease, stress and poor diets, our colon’s protective mucosal lining can become compromised, leading to microbiome imbalance, increased growth of ‘bad’ bacteria and an overall poor gut health. With their ability to resist digestion and pass into the colon intact, polyphenols have been shown to restrict the growth of harmful bacteria and promote that of beneficial bacterial strains like Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. What’s more, they also help re-establish the immune-supporting function of the colon’s mucosal epithelial barrier and reduce the impact of oxidative stress.
Learn more in our new guide on the potential of polyphenols to nourish the gut, naturally!
Naturally rich in polyphenols including anthocyanins, European black elderberries (sambucus nigra) have been a feature of traditional cold and flu remedies for centuries. Recently, researchers at Johannes Kepler University, Austria set out to investigate how these health-boosting effects could be harnessed to support the gut microbiota, with some surprising results.