Human ecosystem

What is the gut microbiome?

There are literally trillions of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses in our gut. These bugs play a crucial role in educating our body and regulating immunity.

Nature itself is diversity and the gut microbiome is no different – there is strength in diversity. When we lose the diversity of our microbiome, this is when problems set in and this loss is linked to all chronic disease. Hippocrates, regarded as the father of medicine, famously said many centuries ago that “all diseases begin in the gut” – this has now turned out to be true.

The gut is our second brain and is in constant communication with our first brain. Our happy hormones are also predominantly made in the gut so gut health is intimately linked with mental health.

Turns out our gut bugs love to eat and we need to nourish them by feeding them the good foods – hence eat the rainbow of vegetables. Science is now showing that all 4 pillars of health have important effects on our microbiome and gut health: food, movement, sleep and stress. 

The good news is that making changes can start to improve gut diversity and health within weeks.

Resources

• Beyond Paleo: Heal your gut by Chris Kresser

  A beginners guide to making fermented food.
  
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  Evidence-based health answers

• Benefits of fermented foods

  Fermented foods, which are being embraced by a wide range of experts from foodies to health gurus, are exploding in popularity. 
  
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  The 13 Benefits of Fermented Foods and How They Improve Your Health
  

• Making fermented foods

  Fermenting is a simple, tasty way to preserve food with added health benefits. 
  
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  Fermenting is a simple, tasty way to preserve food with added health benefits.
  
  How-to Videos for Making Yogurt at Home
  

• Dietary fibre and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota

  The gastrointestinal microbiota has an important role in human health.
  
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  Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota

• Circadian disruption changes gut microbiome

  Disrupted circadian rhythms and alterations of the gut microbiome composition were proposed to affect host health.
  
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  Circadian Disruption Changes Gut Microbiome Taxa and Functional Gene Composition

• Chronic stress promotes colitis by disturbing the gut microbiota and triggering immune system response

  Stress cannot be avoided in the present competitive world, and chronic stress is associated with detrimental effects on physical health, including the progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  
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  PNAS