WHAT IS A MICROBIOME AND HOW DOES IT AFFECTS YOUR BODY?
Jan 19, 2022
WHAT IS A MICROBIOME?
A microbiome is a group of microorganisms that live in the same habitat. Humans, animals, and plants all have their own microbiomes, yet soils, oceans, and even buildings do too.
WHAT IS THE GUT MICROBIOME?
Microorganisms, or microbes, are microscopic living things such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic organisms.
Trillions of these microorganisms can be found primarily in your intestines and on your skin. The majority of microbes in your intestines are found in a "pocket" of your large intestine termed as cecum, and they are known as the gut microbiome.
Although there are many different types of microbes that reside inside you, bacteria are the most researched.
In fact, your body contains more bacterial cells than human cells. In your body, there are around 40 trillion bacterial cells and just 30 trillion human cells. That indicates you're more like a bacterium than a human.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR BODY?
HUMAN MICROBIOME
For thousands of years, humans have evolved to live with microbes.
Microbes have learned to play vital roles in the human body during this time. In addition, without the gut microbiome, survival would be extremely impossible.
The gut microbiome affects your body from the minute you are born.
When you pass through your mother's birth canal, you are first exposed to microbes. However, recent figures show that babies may be exposed to microbes even in the womb.
Your gut microbiome begins to diversify as you grow, indicating that it contains a wide range of microbial species. Higher microbiome diversity is considered beneficial to your health.
Surprisingly, the food you eat impacts the variety of your gut bacteria.
Your microbiome influences your body in a variety of ways as it grows, including:
Breast milk digestion: Some of the bacteria which first start to develop inside babies’ intestines are called Bifidobacteria. They digest the growth-promoting sugars included in breast milk.
Digesting fibre: Specific bacteria digest fibre, creating short-chain fatty acids, which are essential for gut health. Fibre may help to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Helping control your immune system: The gut microbiome also influences how your immune system functions. The gut microbiome can impact the way your body responds to illness by communicating with immune cells.
Helping control brain health: According to new research, the gut microbiome may potentially have an impact on the central nervous system, which regulates brain function.
As a result, the gut microbiome can affect important functions and influence your health in a variety of ways, that's why is important to also learn about natural remedy of leaky gut.
THE GUT MICROBIOME MAY AFFECT YOUR WEIGHT
In your intestines, there are thousands of different varieties of bacteria, the majority of which are beneficial to your health.
However, having a lot of unhealthy microbes can cause diseases.
An imbalance of healthy and unhealthy microbes can often be called gut dysbiosis, and may contribute to obesity.
Several well-known research findings have shown that the gut microbiome differed totally between twins, one of whom was obese and one of whom was healthy. This indicated that variations in the microbiome were not due to genetic differences.
MICROBIOME DIETS: TOP FOODS FOR YOUR MICROBIOME
HOW DO YOU FEED YOUR MICROBIOME?
I’m talking about the trillions of bacteria that live quietly in your digestive tract—influencing everything from your bowel movements to your mood.
We’ve always known that maintaining a healthy microbiome is important for health. Now that research is starting to show the microbiome even increases our risk for severe COVID, we need to really take this seriously.
Here are the top foods to feed a healthy microbiome…
High Fibre Foods: Fibre is a fuel for the good bacteria in your gut! Try these:
- Pears
- Apples
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Avocados
Prebiotic Foods: Prebiotics are specific types of fibre called resistant starches. Beneficial gut bacteria feed on these starches and flourish. Try these:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Leeks
- Asparagus
- Bananas
Probiotic Foods: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in fermented foods. Try these:
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Tempeh
Be aware.
If your body isn’t used to eating a lot of fibre or prebiotics, you might feel a bit gassy at first. Most people adjust. If you don’t, please reach out to me! It may mean there are some other things going on in your gut that we need to fix.
If you’d like to know more;
Book an appointment at Holistic Medicine & Naturopathic Doctor Near Me to heal from depression, anxiety, weight, inflammation, hormones, fatigue, libido, gut health, liver toxicity, adrenal fatigue and emotional pain.
Would you like to attend an in-person course with holistic Naturopathic doctors? Click here!
Get well soon!
LONG TAIL KEYWORDS USED:
- WHAT IS A MICROBIOME?
- GUT MICROBIOME
- HUMAN MICROBIOME
- MICROBIOME DIETS
HEAL YOUR MIND & BODY TOGETHER
Get Your Free Holistic Medicine Course & eBook
Natural remedies for anxiety, depression, leaky gut syndrome, liver detox, adrenal fatigue, mental health, trauma, hormones, ancestral trauma & chronic disease
You will now be taken to Video 1 of Your Free Course. Please check your inbox for your free ebook and video links
