The importance of good Gut health overview:
The importance of good gut health is at the core of good general health and well-being. So much research is now been discovered concerning this that it is irrefutable. If we have problems with our digestive system, you can virtually guarantee we have other health issues going on also. The importance of this area of health research will I believe become a hot topic in the years to come and applying protocols and strategies to balance the gut will be employed to influence health and effect disease.
The gut microbiome:
The gut microbiome refers to the human gastrointestinal microbiota and is also referred to as gut flora or gut microbiota. This is basically referring to the microrganisms that live in the human digestive tract. The bacteria in our gut perform endless tasks for us from digesting our food, regulating our immune systems, protecting us against other harmful bacteria to the production of vitamins such as a whole host of B vitamins and vitamin K.
Healthy bacteria:
The healthy bacteria that resides in our gut is essential to the importance of our git health. These healthy bacteria help us to fight infections and virus’ and helps our immune systems work properly. The key is therefore to use practices that enhance the good heathy bacteria and that reduce the presence of any detrimental bacteria.
Health issues that relate to a faulty microbiome:
- Digestive issues throughout the gastrointestinal tract
- SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)
- Frequent colds and infections
- Allergies
- Skin problems
- Fungal infections
- Parasite issues
- Lowered immunity
- More serious conditions could also indicate issues in the microbiome these could include arthritic conditions, autoimmune conditions, other issues related to poor immunity.
Basic advice to help your microbiome:
- Eat more fibre specifically in the form of high fruit and vegetables, this adds the food that the gut needs to thrive.
- Eat a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, your body likes diversity in the diet.
- Eat fermented foods if this is relevant for you, sometimes these foods can cause sensitivities in some individual’s, so it is best to check with your health practitioner.
- Avoid snaking, snacking between meals means your digestive system cannot work as well as it should as it is constantly having to break down new material
- Take a probiotic supplement that is right for you. Broad spectrum probiotics are often appropriate when there is no specific illness present. However, if specific issues are present it is better to look at probiotics that will help with the specific problems you are facing. At a very basic level populating the gut with a good probiotic helps to crowd out any unwanted bacteria that may be causing underlying health issues. Avoid the popular probiotic drinks however as these are full of sugar.
- Choose polyphenol rich foods such as nuts, seeds, berries, olive oil and brassicas. Polyphenols feed the good gut bacteria and help them grow and crowd out the bad bacteria.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners which have been known to cause damage in the gut as well as many other problems in the body.
- Reduce sugar, wheat and processed food intake, these foods are all known to have detrimental impact upon the gut and can cause many issues.
- Avoid antibiotics where possible, antibiotics can case significant damage in the gut as they basically destroy both good and bad bacteria.
- Get a dog. Studies have shown that people who have a dog in their life have more diversity in their gut microbiome!
- Avoid anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers, it is thought that these products are not good for the gut because they kill all bacteria whether good or bad. Maybe look at using natural products.
- Resolve any bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections
- Spend time outdoors, spending time outdoors in nature is good for us on many levels but research has shown that people who live in the countryside have more microbiological diversity than those who live in cities.
How I work in practice:
In practice I will take a detailed consultation from you asking lost of questions about your health, symptoms and lifestyle. After this I will advise on a plan of action. This will often consist of some hands-on treatment along with recommendations for supplements and lifestyle factors to be incorporated to help resolve your problems. Restoring good gut health is not a quick fix and can take several months even years dependant on the individual.
With the therapies I offer I can correct for example, mechanical problems that might be causing you problems in the digestive tract specifically by using the Bowen Technique. With Health Kinesiology I can test your body for specific vitamin, mineral and remedies along with lifestyle considerations that will help you.