Lacee Cunningham is a functional nutritional therapy practitioner (FNTP) specializing in gut health, hormone balance, stubborn weight loss, blood sugar regulation and most importantly helping you get back to feeling great! To work with Lacee go to www.simply28.com/coaching or email contact@simply28.com to set up a FREE consultation.
Lacee Cunningham, FNTP
What Is the Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome has received a lot of attention in the last several years. Many of us have heard of the microbiome but for some people it’s unclear just exactly what the gut microbiome is, what it does and why we should care about it.
A microbiome is simply a collection of microorganisms or tiny living things. In the case of the gut microbiome, we are referring to the collection of tiny living creatures that reside in colonies in the small and large intestines. The colonies are comprised of an estimated 30 to 100 trillion types of microbials including bacteria, fungi, yeast, viruses and single celled organisms called archaea. The collective weight of the microbiota is estimated at approximately 4.5 to 5 pounds!
The mixtures of microbes, or microorganisms, include beneficial organisms, neutral organisms, and pathogenic organisms which can be harmful to us if they are allowed to grow and proliferate.
What Does the Gut Microbiome Do?
The role of the microbiome living in our gut is diverse. It helps us fully digest food, breaking it down into small enough particles so that we are able to absorb the nutrients through the walls of the intestines into our blood stream so that they can be utilized by various functions of our bodies. The microbiota produces chemicals that support the health of the cells that form the walls of the intestine and the gut barrier which protects us by preventing undigested foods and dangerous pathogens from entering the blood stream. They are the first line of defense when it comes to regulating the immune system. They protect us from turning on certain genes that may result in autoimmune disease. They also produce neuroactive chemicals that are absorbed into the blood stream, travel to the brain, and support brain function and overall brain health.
A healthy microbiome is fundamental when it comes to maintaining good health which is why it is one of the first things that we assess at Simply28 Nutrition when working with nutritional therapy clients. Healing the intestinal wall and promoting healthy growth of microbial colonies is the first step to improve a large number of other chronic health conditions and diseases.
Why Should You Care About Your Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome influences nearly every area of the human body. Gut dysbiosis in which the organisms are out of balance, low in numbers of healthy bacteria and high in numbers of yeast, pathogens and viruses can create many health problems. Gut dysbiosis is strongly linked to many chronic diseases and conditions including:
Mood Disorders – Bacteria in the gut activate neural pathways and is linked to depression, anxiety and even lack of mental focus.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – OCD is linked to the effect of stress and antibiotic use that damages the microbiome.
Autism – An imbalance in the gut leading to leaky gut or gut permeability is thought to be associated with turning on the gene that triggers autism. Individuals with autism almost always have leaky gut issues and irritable bowel syndrome.
Parkinson’s Disease & Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – People with Parkinson’s show a marked difference in microbial function compared to the guts of healthy people. MS has been linked to dysbiosis triggering an overactive immune response which may explain why many people with MS benefit from therapeutic dietary treatments.
Cardiovascular Disease – Certain grain loving bacteria convert an otherwise healthy protein called L-carnitine into a compound that promote the building of plague and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Asthma and Allergies – Both are linked to an imbalance of gut bacteria in children and young adults.
Cancer – The risk of various types of cancer including liver cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic and breast cancer are linked to low levels of beneficial bacteria and high levels of sugar loving microbes found in the gut.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are dysregulated immune responses associated with gut microbes.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and SIBO – There is a definite link between IBS and SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) which left untreated can cause malnutrition, diarrhea, constipation and potentially lead to autoimmune disease.
Diabetes – The relationship between diabetes and the gut microbiome is continuing to be studied but diabetics in general have lower levels of beneficia bacteria and increase levels of damaging microbials than non-diabetics do. This imbalance tends to fluctuate in relation to the persons blood glucose levels – the higher the blood glucose level the more out of balance the microbiome tends to be.
Autoimmune Disease – There more than 80 diseases and conditions classified as autoimmune including, but not limited to, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease, Addison disease, Celiac, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes. Symptoms from autoimmune disease can include fatigue, achy muscles, inflammation, trouble concentrating, hair loss, skin rashes and many other debilitating symptoms. These diseases can affect men, women and children but women are twice as likely as men to have some type of autoimmune disease triggered typically during the childbearing years (ages 15 to 44).
There is no question that a healthy microbiome is essential to prevent a number of diseases and chronic illnesses that affect much of our population. At Simply28 Nutrition, assessing all stages of digestion and gut health is a core part of optimizing health and helping our clients feel and look there best.
How is your gut microbiome? For a complete assessment and more information on how you can improve and support a healthy gut, email Lacee at contact@simply28.com for a FREE consultation or go to www.simply28.com/coaching to get started on your way to healing your gut and feeling great!
