Tiny Tenants: Exploring the Vast Universe of the Microbiome
Want to learn more about microbiome and the community of Microbes that live inside of you? Did you know the type of food you eat has a big impact on your microbiome and that you have the power to control it. How you might ask? By changing your lifestyle. Keep reading to find out more about your gut. Gut is referring to your “gastrointestinal (GI) tract”, there are normal bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes (microbiota) in your stomach and small intestine but a large portion is in your large intestine (colon).
The Microbiome is extremely important to your health which is surprising because it is not talked about enough. Everyone has an individual gut biochemistry. Microbes have an enormous impact to your health and wellness. For instance microbes can affect the way your body responds to a specific environmental substance. Microbes can help your immune system develop stronger, help you digest your food and convert it into energy, and protect you against pathogens. The Microbiome influences your digestive system and the outside of it as well. We all have trillion of microscopic organisms that are unique to each person living inside us.
Where does the microbiome comes from?. We first inherit it through childbirth and breast milk. After that, our diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to our biome. We have a beneficial relationship with our microorganisms where we both help one another. For instance, we provide them with food, shelter and they provide us with important functions within our bodies.
What do microbes provide for our bodies?
Good bacteria in our gut helps us break down food that we cannot break down on our own like complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers and also they provide us with necessary enzymes that synthesize certain vitamins. Our gut bacteria help metabolize bile in our intestines. Without this process cholesterol would build up in our blood,.
Our gut contains about 80% of our immune cells. Beneficial microbes help clean out pathogens, help maintain a gut barrier, and contain anti-inflammatory properties for the gut. Gut Microbes have the ability to affect our nervous system through the ‘Gut-Brain Axis”.
Having an unbalanced or unhealthy gut microbiome is referred to as “dysbiosis”. Losing healthy bacteria leaves your gut vulnerable to diseases or invasive types of bacteria.
What are some environmental factors that affect the microbiome?
Gut microbiome can be affected by diet. Consuming a diet that is high in sugar and saturated fats can cause harm to our microbiome. Consuming plant fibers, whole foods could helps our good microorganisms to thrive by nourishing our gut. Chemicals like alcohol, tobacco smoke, antibiotics, acid blockers and pollutants may poison our microbiome, cleaning out good bacteria or changing our internal ph levels.
How do we take care of our gut microbiome?
Improving our diet and consuming a diverse and plant rich diet like whole grains, vegetables and fruits. This type of diet will add benefits to both our micronutrients, our gut microbes, and also help reduce inflammation within our bodies.
Consult your doctor to discuss what type of prebiotics/ probiotics will work best to feed your gut bacteria.