Our gut health plays a huge role in our overall wellbeing. In a perfect world we would all have known more about the beneficial microbes in and on our body and how to look after them. We would know how to feed them, and we would be reaping the amazing health they help us achieve.
Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in, and many of us live with results of poor gut management and the symptoms that go with it – gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and inflammation.
This is a complex issue, and what we know is that poor gut health is being linked as a factor to every other health condition including fertility issues. No matter what health condition you may have, being nice to your gut microbes should be part of any plan for repair and recovery.
Causes of Poor Digestion and Gut Health Issues
- Refined and processed foods: They do not feed the microbes properly so that they can thrive and protect us.
- Antibiotics: They deplete both good and bad bacteria and for some reason, the bad recover faster from antibiotic use than the good.
- Other Medications: Corticosteroids, birth control pills, aspirin, ibuprofen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) interfere with the mucus lining – the home of the good bacteria where they reproduce.
- Stress: In today’s world, we run around like crazy with too many activities and responsibilities and it’s taking its toll. Amongst many other things, excess stress depletes good bacteria levels. In return, too much bad bacteria stimulates cortisol production, our main stress hormone.
- Poor Sleeping Habits: Our gut bacteria sleep when we sleep, and just one night of no sleep can lower the quality and quantity of our gut microbes. Think about what it must mean when poor- quality sleep occurs night after night for many years.
- Bad Digestive Habits: Chewing food properly is key to digesting good food properly. Forty-five percent of the bacteria in the gut is seeded by the bacteria in the mouth. And to make sure the bacteria is primarily beneficial, we need to secrete lots of antimicrobial saliva to keep the bad bacteria levels low. Chewing stimulates saliva production and we need to chew more.
- Exercise: Too little or too much doesn’t help us maintain our good bacteria levels. Moderate exercise on a regular basis is the best option.
What you need to know:
There are two types of beneficial bacteria:
- Residential bacteria are native to you, and this is what you need to build and maintain for long-term health.
- Transient bacteria are found in probiotic supplements and fermented foods – they help while they are there, but they’re just passing through.
Do you suffer from foods sensitivities or allergies?
Food sensitivities are not caused by the food. They are a digestive issue due to lack of enzymes and/or lack of good bacteria. We do not know what strains any one person is missing, but we do know that different strains help us digest different foods. For example, lactose intolerance is due to lack of the good bacteria that helps break down lactose. Improving the quantity and quality of the strains will improve the ability to digest all types of foods.
What is dysbiosis?
It’s the name given to the condition in the gut when there is no longer the right ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria. The gut should have 85 percent beneficial microbes. Anything less than this can result in symptoms, and as the ratio gets further out of balance, more symptoms occur. Dysbiosis has been linked to all major health conditions.
It’s residential bacteria that need to be re-established. Probiotic supplements can help in the short term, but the permanent solution is finding the right balance of foods and lifestyle that the gut requires to function at it best on its own.
What do residential bacteria like to eat?
They like fiber like FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), polyphenols, and resistant starch. They also function best with lots of vitamins and minerals. So, load up on the fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
The key to a healthy gut is increasing the number and diversity of strains. Different foods feed different strains so variety is the key.
I’ll continue with the topic, but first I’d love to know: How do you support your gut health for better overall wellbeing and fertility?
Love,
Andrea
p.s.: Would you like to have a look at your health and how you can improve it with simple, natural methods? Get in touch for a free chat here.
