Have you ever had “a gut feeling”?
Or been told you “go with your gut”?
Why is that?
Why do the feelings you feel deep inside of yourself tend to be right? You try to reason these emotions with logic.
What if I told you, that you have a unique combination of non-human cells inside of you that are essential to your health. That’s right, your microbiome is as unique as your fingerprint. These cells can affect the foods you enjoy, your weight, fertility, susceptibility to disease, and even your mood!
Whilst humans share more than 99% of their DNA with each other, no two people on the planet have the same microbiome. Your early life, environment, the foods you eat, and even your thoughts, all shape your microbiome and consequently, your well-being.
So what is “the microbiome”
It is a collection of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites, and fungi that live predominantly in your large intestine (colon). This is the “gut microbiome”. You also have a skin microbiome, oral microbiome, lung microbiome, etc. it is estimated that there are trillions of non-human cells living alongside of you.
Are they dangerous?
When these cells are “in balance”, they positively influence your health.
They can help you:
- Maintain your weight and metabolism
- Digest your food
- Energise you
- Boost your mood and give you mental clarity
- Get rid of toxins and fight infection
- Combat inflammation
When these cells are “out of balance”, this is known as dysbiosis. An unbalanced gut microbiome may lead to:
- Weight gain
- Sugar cravings
- Bloating, fatigue, indigestion
- Food intolerances
- Insomnia
- Autoimmunity
- Mood disorders, including depression and anxiety
- High levels of inflammation throughout the body
- Skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema and acne
- Lifestyle diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers
I could go on. Pretty scary huh?
What can you do to balance your microbiome?
A healthy gut will help you feel and look your best self. Dietary and lifestyle interventions are crucial to keeping your biome in check. You know what else is cool? We now have the technology to assess your microbiome using science-backed at-home testing kits. Explore what microbe species you host, inflammation, and even digestive function. Now we can really target your treatment approach.
As I mentioned at the start of this post, no two people on the planet have the same microbiome. What works for your mum, friend, partner, etc… might not work for you. That’s ok! That is what makes you unique.
Everybody’s body is different. It’s time for a personalised approach to human health.
Interested in exploring your biome? Reach out to me here and let’s beat the bloat, slim down, fight inflammation and support detoxification.
Ready to feel your best self again?
References:
The Human Microbiome and Its Impacts on Health
Gut Microbiome: Profound Implications for Diet and Disease