Did you know that there are trillions of bacteria located in your gut? That’s a lot of bacteria, but fortunately they’re not all bad. When most of us think of bacteria, we think of those bad bugs that make us sick. Your gut however, houses both good and bad organisms, which contribute to your overall health. Your gut plays a big part in your immune functioning, as well. In fact, it contains “70 percent of the cells that make up your immune system.”¹ It also has a strong communication link to your brain. That is why if you’re not feeling well, you might want to ask, “What’s your gut got to do with it?” People with diverse microbiomes are more likely to feel healthy and vibrant, which is why it is important to keep your gut in good shape.
So What’s a Microbiome?
A microbiome is “a community of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses that inhabit a particular environment, such as in the gut or other area of the human body.”²
A microbiome is like a garden. A healthy garden contains nutrient-dense plants that are good for your body and flourish with water, sunshine and lots of tender loving care. Without routine maintenance and TLC however, weeds can spring up and can take over. When there are too many weeds, they can choke off the healthy plants, leaving them diseased or unhealthy. That’s what happens in your gut when unhealthy bacteria and organisms take over and can lead to dysbiosis and inflammation.
What’s Dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the bacteria of the gut, which can cause a variety of health problems and disease.³ It can also lead to leaky gut, which happens when the epithelial cells of the intestinal wall break down and cause openings. These openings, in turn let food into the bloodstream where they are considered invaders and thus trigger an antibody reaction and inflammation. It also causes malabsorption of nutrients, such as iron and magnesium and can lead to illnesses such as anemia, crohn’s disease, food sensitivities, allergies, arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases.4
What Causes Leaky Gut?
Both food and our environment can contribute to leaky gut. Other factors can come into play, as well. The world we live in today is much different than it was 50 years ago. In fact, in my book, Wholey Cow A Simple Guide To Eating And Living, I talk about how our food system needs reform. Processed foods, factory farming and big business all play a role in how our society has changed and the foods we eat. While we have many more choices and technological advances, we need to take a hard look at how they affect our overall well-being and health. Some things that contribute to leaky gut include:
Leaky Gut Contributors
- GMOs
- Antibiotics
- Processed Foods
- Sugar
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Vaccines
- Stress
- Gluten
Foods That Keep Your Gut Healthy
The good news that there are ways to keep your gut healthy, including eating more fermented foods. Try including the following foods to your diet to nourish your body and keep it functioning at an optimal level. Taking a good probiotic supplement daily is also important.
Fermented Foods
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
- Kimichi
- Miso
- Tempeh
Eat More Prebiotic Foods
Taking prebiotics or eating more prebiotic foods is another way you can help establish a healthy body and healthy gut. Prebiotics are fiber-rich foods or supplements that help feed the good bacteria in your gut. They actually help your good bacteria grow. You can think of them as fertilizer for your gut. Some prebiotic foods include:
Prebiotic Foods
- Onions
- Garlic
- Asparagus
- Bananas
- Chick peas
- Black beans
- Fava beans
- Other legumes
Make sure you include plenty of these prebiotic foods in your regular diet to help keep a healthy gut.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Source:
¹“How to Tend to Your Inner Garden – Why Your Gut Flora May Be Making You Sick.” Dr. Mark Hyman, 8 Jan. 2015, drhyman.com/blog/2014/10/10/tend-inner-garden-gut-flora-may-making-sick/.
²“Microbiome.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbiome.
³“What’s the Gut Got To Do With It?” Women’s Voice, 26 Apr. 2018, womensvoicemagazine.com/whats-the-gut-got-to-do-with-it.
4“Anemia–The Real Cause & Why More Iron Will Make the Problem Worse.” Healthy Families for God, 21 May 2017, www.healthyfamiliesforgod.com/blog/2017/05/anemia-the-real-iron-problem-worse.
