(Part II on Gut Health)
EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF gut health. Did you know that the state of your guts (intestines) is an indicator of your overall health?
A healthy gut contains about 100 trillion bacteria. A healthy gut also has a good ratio of good to bad bacteria. To increase the ratio of good to bad bacteria, eat more fermented foods as they contain tons of beneficial probiotics, digestive enzymes and health-boosting nutrients.
Probiotics, along with a host of other microorganisms, are so crucial to your health that researchers have compared them to “a newly recognized organ.” Your microflora – a term used to describe the bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes that make up your microbial inner ecosystem – impact far more than your digestive tract.
“80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to maintain optimal health. Remember, a robust immune system is your number one defense system against ALL disease.” Dr Mercola
According to research taken from several sites, including Mercola.com, here are areas where your gut bacteria play key roles in:
1. Behavior. A study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility found that mice lacking in gut bacteria behave differently from normal mice, engaging in what would be referred to as “high-risk behavior.” This altered behavior was accompanied by neurochemical changes in the mouse brain. In fact, your gut serves as your second brain.It produces more of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is known to have a positive influence on your mood, than your brain does.
2. Gene expression. A probiotic-rich beverage has been shown to influence the activity of hundreds of your genes to help them express in a positive, disease-fighting way. This makes your gut health a very powerful variable of epigenetics, a cutting-edge field of medicine showing that your lifestyle plays a significant role in your genetic expression.
3. Diabetes. According to a study from Denmark, bacterial population in the gut of diabetics differs from non-diabetics. According to the authors, the results of their study indicate that Type 2 Diabetes in humans is linked to compositional changes in intestinal microbiota. A healthy diet – low in sugar and grains; high in whole raw foods and fermented foods – allows your beneficial gut bacteria to flourish.
4. Autism. Establishment of normal gut flora in the first 20 days or so of life is critical in appropriate maturation of your baby’s immune system. Hence, babies with abnormal gut flora have compromised immune systems and are particularly at risk for developing ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism especially if they are vaccinated before restoring balance to their gut flora.
5. Obesity. Probiotics may help fight obesity. Restoring your gut flora is therefore a crucial consideration if you’re struggling to lose weight.
What do Probiotics do?
The friendly bacteria that reside in your gut have a number of very important functions, including:
1. Digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates. Good gut bacteria aids the body to absorb undigested starches, fiber, and sugars.
2. Producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins. Probiotics help in the production vitamin K and B, and promote mineral absorption, aiding metabolism and breaking down toxins.
3. Keeping bad bacteria under control. Helpful bacteria also produce a substance that kills harmful microbes.
4. Preventing allergies. Friendly bacteria train your immune system to distinguish between pathogens and non-harmful antigens, and to respond appropriately.
5. Providing vital support to your immune system. Beneficial bacteria have a lifelong, powerful effect on your gut’s immune system and your systemic immune system as well. The bacteria play a crucial role in the development and operation of the mucosal immune system in your digestive tract. They also aid in the production of antibodies to pathogens.
Probiotics can prevent or control:
- Food and skin allergies in children
- Premature labour in pregnant women
- Recurrent ear and bladder infections
- Chronic diarrhoea
9 Top Probiotics-rich foods recommended by MindBodyGreen
2. Miso Soup
3. Sauerkraut ─ German for “sour cabbage”. Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and is thought of as a German invention
5. Kombucha ─ a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast
6. Microalgae ─ Microaglae refers to superfood ocean-based plants such as spirulina, chorella, and blue-green algae
9. Kimchi ─ a traditional spicy and sour fermented Korean side dish made of cabbage and other vegetables
With research from Mercola.com, MindBodyGreen.com