There has been a lot of talk in the health world about the gut microbiome and its only going to increase as more and more studies are released. Here are some basics you should know.
What is the gut microbiome:
- Produces bacteria and these bacteria all have enzymes and different functions
- Is involved with making micronutrients
- Is involved with synthesizing hormones
- Is involved with making hormones active
- Is involved with detoxifying us and sending chemicals through our body
- Produces mucopolysaccharides which impact our immune system and modulate our immune function
- Creates neuropeptides that modulate our mood
It turns out every aspect of a Human Biochemistry book takes place in the gut microbiome according to Dr Datis Kharrazian.
If you look at epidemics of autoimmune diseases, the impact on the human population in a very short period of time has been rising quickly. So we’re doing something wrong to increase the number of people that come down with autoimmunity.
The most common autoimmune diseases:
- Lupus
- Fibromyalgia
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Celiac Disease
- Type1 Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Narcolepsy
According to the American Autoimmune Disease Related Association, the current stats are one out of twelve women have an autoimmune disease in the US, and one out of every twenty men have an autoimmune disease. Most get undiagnosed forever, but someone will have chronic inflammation, or end up with hypothyroidism, or diabetes, which is actually autoimmune based, and various types of other conditions. And, they don’t really understand that their gut most likely is playing a role with this.
That means that if we understand what we are doing wrong, we can stop these epidemics says Dr Alessio Fasano.
This means that autoimmunity is not a destiny. As a matter of fact, the recipe for chronic inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases, is all linked to the health of our microbiome.
The microbiome can be really modulated in a way that can protect us rather than harm us. There are some other aspects that we can control. Lifestyle is definitely a part of the scenario and is definitely under our control.
What about lifestyle?
Well it turns out that our sleep, stress levels, amount of exercise, hygiene, and attitude go a long way. These have traditionally been considered “soft” science by doctors but all the smart ones are now understanding that lifestyle is key. It’s what you do in the 23 hours a day when you’re not visiting the doctor that determines your health and longevity.
One of the most important aspects that effects the microbiome composition and function is the way that we eat. Again according to Dr Fasano, we are born only once, we may have infections here and there and prescribe use of antibiotics but we eat three, four times a day and that’s the most impactful way we can change the microbiome composition.
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Stay tuned for more information as new studies are released on this very important topic.
