HARNESS THE POWER OF YOUR MICROBIOME
There are trillions of bacteria living in your gut that play a crucial role in your overall health.
These bacteria help you digest your food, prevent leaky gut, regulate your immune system, and coordinate nerve signaling and brain function.
In fact, the microbiome is deemed so important to your health that researchers have deemed it the “forgotten organ”.
Just like your heart or your lungs, your microbiome is vital for your wellbeing.
In order to live a vibrant, healthy life you must take care of your microbiome.
How Rebuilding a Healthy Gut Can Give You a Healthier Life
Digestive problems have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. (and elsewhere). Consider the following:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects between 10 and 15 percent of the population
IBS is the second leading cause of missed workdays, behind only the common cold
60 percent of adults in the U.S. experience symptoms of GERD
Nexium, an acid suppressing drug prescribed for GERD, is not recommended for more than 3 months but people have it for years.
We now know that the health of the gut is critical to overall health, and that an unhealthy gut doesn’t just cause digestive distress—it contributes to everything from obesity and diabetes to autoimmune disease to skin disorders.
In fact, it’s safe to say that you’re only as healthy as your gut.
Healthy Gut Flora = Overall Health
Research over the past two decades has revealed that our gut flora plays a key role in maintaining gut function and integrity, and that imbalanced gut flora can contribute to a wide range of diseases including diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, autism spectrum disorder, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Unfortunately, several features of the modern lifestyle directly contribute to unhealthy gut flora:
1. Antibiotics and other medications like birth control and NSAIDs
2. Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods
3. Diets low in fermentable fibers
4. Dietary toxins like wheat and industrial seed oils that cause leaky gut
5. Chronic stress
Your Gut is Your First Line of Defense
Consider the intricate role of the gut in our body's defense system. The gut, essentially a passage from mouth to anus, acts as a barrier, selectively absorbing nutrients while preventing harmful substances from entering. However, when this barrier becomes compromised, as in "leaky gut syndrome," undigested proteins breach into the bloodstream. This triggers an immune response, leading to conditions numerous health conditions. Thus, maintaining gut health is crucial not just for digestion but for overall immune function and disease prevention.
