Empower Yourself with Optimal Gut Support
Everyone’s microbiome configuration is original, similar to how we each have our own unique fingerprint. But there are certain elements that can cause trouble for most of us. For example, we all have some yeast in our microbiomes, including the notorious fungi known as Candida. Normally, this yeast exists in harmony with the other microbes, but when it is allowed to overgrow (usually due to a high sugar diet or lowered immune system), it can cause low-grade inflammation and stress on our health. The same goes for certain types of bacteria that can cause digestive distress as well as other health problems.
So how do you know if your gut microbiome is in a state of healthy balance, or if things are going awry in there? Your first clue is whether or not any of these common lifestyle or medical factors that lead to poor gut health apply to you:
- Chronic use of medications or antibiotics
- Stress
- A high fat/sugar/processed diet
- Autoimmunity
- Hormone imbalances
By the time someone has developed an imbalance of good and bad gut bacteria, their microbiome has become upset usually due to chronic damage from the above mentioned causes. In addition to bacterial or fungal imbalances that take place, the acid-base balance of the gut is usually:
- The cells that line the G.I. tract are highly inflamed.
- The protective layer of the intestines can be compromised.
When this happens, the gut barrier is damaged and allows intestinal permeability to occur (also known as Leaky Gut) therefore allowing the communication between the cells and the gut brain connection to become dysfunctional. This is when most people begin to complain of “brain fog”.
Addressing the Underlying Cause of GI Distress
Most people take probiotics to address intestinal problems. However, for probiotics to be effective those bacteria need access to high fiber foods in the gut. It’s at that point that the bacteria have to begin the process of breaking down the food so they can access the fibers and start the process of converting them into compounds created by probiotics to assist the body’s immunity. If a person takes probiotics and they already have an inflamed gut, most likely their overrun with bad bacteria.
Balancing the Gut Flora & Healing the Gut
The most critical factor in creating and maintaining healthy microbiome is a healthy plant-based, fiber rich diet. These dietary fibers are essentially the prebiotic foods that enable your good gut bacteria to grow and proliferate. Examples of prebiotics include:
- Barley
- Oat
- Apples
- Saurerkraut
- Leafy vegetables
- Dandelion
- Chicory
- Garlic
- Onions
- Sunchokes
- Unripened bananas
- Miso
- Short chain fatty acids
- Butyric acid
If you don’t feed your probiotic bacteria well enough, then they can’t thrive.
When people consume high sugar, high fat, processed foods, they promote the growth of pathological bacteria that can cause even further health problems.
Knowledge is power when it comes to your health, especially the health of your gut. Arm yourself with understanding so you know what destroys and what heals you, and you will be the one in control of your health future. For additional support for healing your gut issues, please contact the office to begin.
