Who Cares About the Microbiome? (YOU Should!)

When it comes to the microbiome, the stakes are high 😬

We don’t see it, we can’t feel it, and yet it has power over nearly every aspect of our health.

Those trillions of microorganisms on and in us influence digestion, detoxification, immune function, brain health, and more.

Evidence-based research (PMID: 34584224) shows that changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with all of these conditions:

▪️ Rheumatoid Arthritis

▪️ Type 1 Diabetes

▪️ Type 2 Diabetes

▪️ Eczema

▪️ Asthma

▪️ IBD

▪️ IBS

▪️ Fatty Liver

▪️ Cardiovascular Disease

▪️ Chronic Kidney Disease

▪️ Mental Health Disorders

The microbiome is not the only contributing factor to these conditions, but it is one that is often overlooked.

And it is one that we always consider from a functional perspective.

Because in functional medicine, we do more than treat a diagnosis. We look for underlying causes and optimize the structure and function of all body systems.

If you want a holistic and root-cause approach...

🥾 Take the first step through the link in our bio.

Reference

Vijay A, Valdes AM. Role of the gut microbiome in chronic diseases: a narrative review. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022;76(4):489-501. [link]

5 Surprising Things that Disrupt the Microbiome

Check out this list ⬇️⬇️

If you want to support your digestion, immune system, metabolism, and brain…

…you’re going to need to have your gut microbiome on board. 

So it’s important to avoid (or at least minimize) exposure to the things that most directly disrupt microbiome balance. 

These include:

▪️ Antibiotics

▪️ Glyphosate (an herbicide residue on conventionally grown foods)

▪️ Artificial Sweeteners

▪️ Processed Foods

▪️ Stress!!

There are also plenty of things you can do to support a healthy microbiome, such as eating a variety of plant foods and exercising outdoors. 

It’s all about tipping the scales in favor of health.

Wondering if microbiome balance could be an issue for you?

We can help you find out. 

🌱 Get started at our practice through the link in our bio!

References

Ahmad SY, Friel J, Mackay D. The Effects of Non-Nutritive Artificial Sweeteners, Aspartame and Sucralose, on the Gut Microbiome in Healthy Adults: Secondary Outcomes of a Randomized Double-Blinded Crossover Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3408. [link]

Beurel E. Stress in the microbiome-immune crosstalk. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2327409. [link]

Juul F, Vaidean G, Parekh N. Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiovascular Diseases: Potential Mechanisms of Action. Adv Nutr. 2021;12(5):1673-1680. [link]

Patangia DV, Anthony Ryan C, Dempsey E, Paul Ross R, Stanton C. Impact of antibiotics on the human microbiome and consequences for host health. Microbiologyopen. 2022;11(1):e1260. [link]

Walsh L, Hill C, Ross RP. Impact of glyphosate (RoundupTM) on the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome. Gut Microbes. 2023;15(2):2263935. [link]

Dysbiosis Explained...

For anyone struggling with an unexplained health issue 👉this is commonly missed.

Dysbiosis is defined as an imbalance of the gut microbiome.

Whereas a healthy microbiome has a wide diversity of beneficial bacteria, dysbiosis can occur when any of these 3 things happen:

1️⃣Loss of beneficial bacteria

2️⃣Overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria

3️⃣Loss of overall bacterial diversity

These 3 things can also happen simultaneously.

Research shows that disruptions of the gut microbiome are associated with conditions that affect digestion, metabolism, weight, blood sugar, and even neurological health.

How do we know if this is an issue?

We test.

Functional medicine tests like the organic acids test and digestive stool analysis can give us insights into the health of your microbiome and guide us in creating a plan.

🌱 Get started at our practice under “services” at the top of the page!

Reference

DeGruttola AK, Low D, Mizoguchi A, Mizoguchi E. Current Understanding of Dysbiosis in Disease in Human and Animal Models. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016;22(5):1137-1150. [link]

Why Your Microbiome Matters ➡️

💥Stop ignoring your microbiome ⬇️

One of the most common root causes of health issues is a disruption of the gut microbiome. 

That’s because the tiny microorganisms inhabiting your gut are responsible for massively important functions, including:

1️⃣Nutrient Synthesis

Bacteria in the gut produce B vitamins, vitamin K, and the healthy fatty acid, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). 

2️⃣Digestion

Certain bacteria support the digestion of fats as well as polyphenols from the diet.

3️⃣Detoxification

Specific gut microbiomes are known to metabolize some drugs and xenobiotics (toxic chemicals). 

4️⃣ Neurotransmitter Production

Gut bacteria directly produce neurotransmitters, including dopamine and norepinephrine.

5️⃣Immune Function

Bacteria interact with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) to support immune function.

When we disrupt the gut microbiome, we potentially impact all of these things. 

Be sure to like this post ❤️and follow for more on how to optimize and improve your microbiome for better health.

Reference

Jandhyala SM, Talukdar R, Subramanyam C, Vuyyuru H, Sasikala M, Nageshwar Reddy D. Role of the normal gut microbiota. World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(29):8787-8803. [link]

Strandwitz P. Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota. Brain Res. 2018;1693(Pt B):128-133 [link]

3 Beverages for Gut Health

Looking for something different to drink that will support a healthy gut? 🥤

Try these ➡️

🫚 Golden Milk

Golden milk gets its color from turmeric. It’s made by warming 2 cups of a milk of your choice on the stove with 1 tsp of turmeric powder and any other spices or sweeteners to taste (cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, black pepper, vanilla, maple syrup, etc.) Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to benefit the gut!

🧉 Kombucha

Kombucha is a fizzy fermented tea that can be purchased at the store or made at home (you’ll need a SCOBY for the fermentation process). It’s rich in B vitamins as well as probiotic bacteria to support the gut microbiome.

🍵 Green Tea

Green tea is rich in catechins, which are antioxidant polyphenols that have been shown to promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Do you have a favorite gut-friendly beverage? Let me know in the comments!