Your Microbiome and why it’s so important.
A few short years ago, few of us knew we even had a gut microbiome. Today most of us know that gut health is important to overall health but you might be surprised to know to what extent!
Many seemingly unrelated conditions –allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, IBS, depression, even dementia and Alzeimers, they all start with the gut.
Want to fix your health? You need to start with your Gut.
What is your gut microbiome?
You may be surprised to learn that the gut microbiome (also known as gut flora) is actually an organ, but it is unlike any other organ in the body. Often referred to as the ”invisible” organ, the microbiome is a 3lb organ inside your large colon that is host to thousands of microscopic species.
Anywhere from 12 – 1500 known species reside in your gut – and those numbers are changing all the time as the science is ever evolving.
We have 100 trillion bacteria cells living in and on our bodies. That’s 10 times more than we have human cells. It turns out that our microbiome, our 100 trillion little bacteria friends are actually responsible for our health! These friends determine more about your emotional and mental well being than you ever imagined.
How did we get to this place of poor health on such a large scale?
Unfortunately, our modern day diets of pre-packaged and processed foods, factory farmed meats, environmental toxins, preservatives, the overuse of antibiotics, all of this has taken a toll on our microscopic friends, resulting in an exponential rise in chronic illnesses.
It’s a complex topic, but let’s just say that commonplace cesarean births, formula fed babies, our excessive phobias for dirt and germs (hello toxic cleaners!), these all play a part.
Our modern day nutrition and lifestyle habits have wreaked havoc on our health.
The good news is that it’s possible to regain your 100 trillion friends and feel fabulous. I’m not talking Facebook friends, I’m talking real friends… the type of friends that can save your life!
Yes, a flourishing gut flora can save your life!
So how do you make friends with your gut flora?
Give your gut the power of good, nutritious food!
Inspirational speaker Alexander Den Heijer once said “when a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” The same goes for your gut flora.
When we eat, we are not only feeding ourselves, we are also feeding our microbiome. Actually most of what we eat is for our microscopic friends. Remember those numbers we crunched? 90% of what we eat goes to feeding and nourishing our friends.
What food do your gut friends need to flourish? They need lots and lots of greens, plant based carbs and proteins. That means vegetables and lots of them! Vegetables provide a rich and diverse diet for our friends. The combination of soluble and insoluble fibre in vegetables is nutritious fuel for the friendly bacteria in your colon.
It’s the digestive process – that of the bacteria digesting the fibre that creates our immune system – our health!
There is a lot more to it, but I have found that when I work with my clients to combine these principles of healthy eating with individual nutritional and lifestyle protocols, the results have been nothing short of life changing.
I am constantly amazed by the healing power of food. Food is the single most powerful tool we have at our disposal to transform our health for the better. Once we truly understand the connection between how we feel and what’s on our plates, it forever changes the choices we make.
Food Can Change Everything
There’s no doubt that modern day nutrition is confusing – there’s an overwhelming amount of information and an over abundance of diet trends…Low fat No fat, high fibre, low carb Paleo, Keto and one day coffee is great and the next it’s on the carcinogen list.
The science is ever evolving, but one thing that never changes is the fact that whole, fresh, grown in good soil, plant-based foods never go out of style. In all my years of practice, this is the constant.
I’m going to leave you with a fairly new concept to chew on: food can change everything.
How we live our lives is directly related to what’s on our plates – really! The food choices we make affects our microbiome, which in turn determines our health, and it is our health that determines how we live our lives. Our mood, energy, creativity, spontaneity, all of it comes back to food.
Taking care of our Gut Health is NOT another dietary fad. It’s a breakthrough in our understanding of the human (or shall we say, bacteria, body). It’s a total game changer!
Want to kickstart your health this September and start making friends with your gut flora? I’d love to help. Book a consultation today!