WHAT
Your gut has over 1,000 different types of bacteria that make up around 100 TRILLION bacteria cells. Stop real quick, to say again, your gut has around 100 trillion bacteria cells, that's almost 10 times more bacteria in your gut than there are human cells in your body! This bacteria aids in the health of your body. It allows for proper digestion of all the nutrients in food and supplements, and is tightly connected to your immune system.
Your gut biome (mircobiome) tells your immune system how to function properly and helps fight the big bad inflammation. This process begins from birth developing through the first year of life.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
Since your gut is now being referred to as your second brain, its important to be aware of. A healthy gut can mean more energy, mental clarity, greater emotional health, and less illness.
These days we have grown up taking anti-biotics, eating processed foods and unfortunately, eating fresh fruits and vegetables grown on toxic soil. All of which greatly impacts your gut health and the diversity of healthy bacteria in your gut.
Antibiotics wipe out the bad bacteria, but they also take out all the good bacteria we need.
Processed foods lack the proper nutrients and contain chemicals that negatively impact gut bacteria.
Non-organic meats and produce are grown on contaminated soil containing harmful chemicals (aka toxic pesticides).
There is emerging research on how the gut biome is related to diseases like
cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, IBS, Crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis, colorectal cancer, obesity, depression, chronic fatigue, and diabetes.
If that’s not enough, it can also cause allergies, congestion, hives, fatigue, and migraines.
A healthy gut means diversity in bacteria, leading to a stronger immune system, reduce disease, optimized performance, happier, healthier you!
Fun fact, most of the serotonin in your body is actually produced in your gut and this helps with mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and learning.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT
- Include probiotics and prebiotics into your diet through foods and/or supplements.
If you are taking probiotics and prebiotics as supplements, do your research on the brand, look for allergen free, and a probiotic should contain prebiotic fiber to work effectively. - Try to eat organic, non-GMO meats & produce when possible.
- Avoid foods that contain gluten, processed foods, sugar.
- Include anti-inflammatory foods into your daily routine such as: wild blueberries, artichokes, avocados, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, turnips. Eat those veggies!
- Get outside! Nature has an abundant source of goodies for your gut.
To be clear, having a healthy gut is critical to your overall health. It takes time to repair, there is no overnight quick fix, and it requires consistent efforts throughout your life to maintain, but living a long life with mental clarity, energy, and physical health is SO worth the work.
I WANT MORE
Here are three articles going more in depth on the Gut Biome if you want to dig deeper into the sciency stuff.
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