INSIDE YOUR MICROBIOME
When it comes to gut health, there are several words that you will hear that are used interchangeably, and it can be somewhat be confusing. Because I am inquisitive and somewhat of a geek, I decided to do a little research and provide a basic understanding of the words we hear most when it comes to gut health.
In this article I am will be focusing on the word “MICROBIOME”. To get the correct pronunciation, click on the word above.
WHAT IS A BIOME?
This may sound a little crazy, but our bodies do not just belong to us. It is the home for a vast collection of microorganisms. Most people define microbiome as a bacterial ecosystem that lives in several specific places such as gut, vaginal, skin or throat.
Scientists define biome as an ecosystem made up of flora (microorganisms or plant life) and fauna (an area within the human body). They use the word micro to indicate that this ecosystem is invisible to the human eye. The ecosystem is made up of mostly bacteria, archaea (single cell organisms), parasites, viruses, and fungi which all play a role in maintaining the environment’s stability.
In a healthy person, these “bugs” coexist peacefully within the small and large intestines and throughout the body. The microbiome is labeled a supporting organ because it plays so many key roles in promoting the smooth daily operations of the human body.
One of the easiest ways to under the microbiome is to picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the sidewalks flooded with people rushing to work or to appointments. Now, imagine this scenario on a microscopic level with trillions of microorganisms of different species within the body. This is the idea of what a microbiome would look like.
Our bodies harbor a huge array of microorganisms, both inside and out. The human microbiome has trillions of microbes that can be separated into subsections depending on where they are located.
So, when you hear gut microbiome, it means the microorganisms (and their genes) reside inside the colon.
The gut microbiome plays a big part in our overall human health. But microbiomes are not only featured within the human body. Plants, animals, soil and even the ocean have their own microbiomes as well.
The microbiome is a living dynamic environment where the relative abundance of species may fluctuate daily, weekly, and monthly depending on diet, medication, exercise and a host of environmental exposures.
Microbiomes also differ from person to person. This means that two healthy people with active microbiomes, who are living in the same city, would have a tremendous difference in their individual microbiomes. This explains why people respond differently to the same foods. Whether tomatoes are good or bad for you or whether rice is better for you versus ice cream and so on is explained by your own personal microbiome.
WHY HAS THE MICROBIOME BECOME SUCH A HOT TOPIC OF RESEARCH?
Over the recent years, the gut microbiome has been linked to a lot of diseases and conditions including autoimmune, diabetes, autism, anxiety, obesity and insomnia. It has also been linked to how individuals respond to certain drugs, including a cancer patient’s response to chemotherapy.
WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY MICROBIOME IN GOOD SHAPE?
This is where prebiotics and probiotics come into play. Prebiotics consists of fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi. Probiotics are microbes that are beneficial to your health and can be found in yogurt.
While both prebiotics and probiotics come in supplement form, it is up to you as to whether you want to shell out for them or not.
KEEP THIS IN MIND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING PROBIOTICS.
For those of you who are considering probiotics keep this in mind. One thing to understand about supplements is that there are many kinds.
For instance, one type of bacteria that is commonly used in probiotic supplements is lactobacillus. But there are more than 120 species of lactobacillus with at least a dozen of them being used as probiotics. With so many different types of bacteria having a dozen of species, this can be quite confusing when choosing a probiotic because supplement brands will vary. Of course, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor first before adding any supplements.
The recommended dosage range is from 1-billion to 10-billion colony-forming units or CFU which indicate the number of viable cells. Higher doses can go up to 50-billion or more. However, the higher the CFU count does not necessarily improve the product’s health benefits.
A daily supplement for one to two weeks may improve conditions such as infectious or antibiotic-related diarrhea.
The microorganisms in a probiotic supplement needs to be alive when you take them or when they’re freeze-dried for capsules. They may die once they have been exposed to heat, moisture or air. Some probiotics may also require refrigeration.
The probiotic support that I am currently taking balances the intestinal flora and guarantees that 5-billion cells will reach their target alive. This good bacteria that I am putting into my body is so effective that it requires 80% fewer strains and will start producing more good bacteria in my gut 5 times better than the typical strains.
I love the way this probiotic supplement tastes, natural cucumber with a hint of mint. It reminds me of a Pixie Stick because it also comes in individual, single-serve stick packs that are portable for on the go. Plus with the dietary changes my family and I are incorporating in our dietary plan, it is great to know that this probiotic is gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and keto-friendly.
We were also given a doctor recommendation for this probiotic which can be purchased through Amazon. This high-potency probiotic has 42-billion CFU and does require refrigeration.
This blend is unique because it has been developed to survive the stomach acids so that it does not lose its effectiveness once it reaches the intestinal tract. It is also gluten-free, vegetarian and raw and helps maintain the yeast balance within the body. I plan to add this one to our dietary regimen in the near future.
Studies have shown that adding probiotics into your dietary mix can help boost the good bacteria, keeping the bad in balance in order to maintain a healthy microbiome naturally.
Thanks For Reading...
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