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Monthly Archives

June 2020

Jun 30
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So…what does the microbiome actually do?

By | Gut Health

 

So…what does the microbiome actually do?

 

It’s true, we have a non-human entity living inside all of us that plays a super important role for our health! It’s pretty sci-fi! Our microbiome has several functions, here are four of the most important:

  • It consumes fibre – which means that fibre actually feeds the good gut bacteria in our large intestine, keeping them healthy and well populated. A byproduct of this fermentation process is short chain fatty acid production (butyrate being the most important) which acts as an energy source for our colon cells. This can keep inflammation down, prevent leaky gut, and help to keep bowel cancer away.
  • It helps to regulate immune function. It’s estimated that around 70-80% of immune cells are in the gut. The microbiome communicates and interacts with the immune cells, and influences the way our body reacts and responds to different antigens.
  • It synthesises certain vitamins – like thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9) as well as a large proportion of your daily vitamin K needs.
  • It also manufacturers neurochemicals – including neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine and serotonin. You’ll be shocked to learn that 95% of your serotonin – the feel good neurotransmitter – is produced by the microbiome in your gut!

Book a free 15 minute health discussion with me here to see whether your gut may be operating at optimum level.

Tessa

Jun 23
0

Dysbiosis; what is it and what could possibly go wrong?

By | Digestion, Gut Health

Dysbiosis, what is it and what could possibly go wrong?

HINT: it covers more than just gut-related symptoms!

Your microbiome is like a rainforest ecosystem, what happens when the soaring trees that provide the foundation for this eco system, your beneficial gut bacteria, are wiped out or reduced greatly in number? While it’s normal to have some weeds in the rainforest, given the opportunity they will overgrow and take over the ecosystem. This is how opportunistic bacteria can behave in your gut creating an imbalance in the eco system. We call this dysbiosis.

  • These opportunistic bacteria contain a toxin in their cell wall called lipopolysaccharides (also known as LPS)
  • When you have dysbiosis it is highly likely that the associated inflammation & GIT disfunction will be causing some degree of leaky gut or intestinal permeability.
  • High levels of LPS due to the microbiome dysbiosis can make their way through the wall of the large intestines, thanks for nothing leaky gut, and into the bloodstream where they can cause all sorts of problems by placing a burden on liver function and crossing the blood brain barrier causing depression or cognitive disfunction like poor memory, brain fog and fatigue.
  • Other conditions that have been linked to high levels of circulating LPS include:
    – Alzheimers
    – Parkinsons
    – Behavioural disorders
    – Liver disease
    – Diabetes
  • The inflammation caused by a dysbiotic gut can cause a cascade effect that can cause a breakdown of digestion function leading to disordered bowel motions and digestion as seen in IBS and food intolerances.
  • Dysbiosis has also been linked to IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, obesity, intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut), liver disease, neurological conditions, eczema and allergies – especially in children and infants.

If you’re concerned about dysbiosis we can arrange a non-invasive stool test to measure the bacterial levels and see what effect it may be having on your health.

Tessa

P.S. If you think this information may benefit someone you care about, please share it with them below

Book a free 15 minute health discussion with me here to discuss your health and see if we are a good fit to work together.