Is Your Microbiome Calling for Help?

Signs of microbiome imbalance ⬇️

Changes in the balance of microorganisms in the gut (also called dysbiosis) can lead to these gut-related issues:

▪️Gas

▪️Bloating

▪️Smelly Stools

▪️Loose Stools

▪️Constipation

▪️Bad Breath

Or these systemic issues:

▪️Brain Fog

▪️Skin Rashes

▪️Anxiousness

▪️Fatigue

▪️Aching Joints

This is not an exhaustive list, and every person is unique!

The good news is that we can correct, protect, and support the microbiome with functional medicine. The key is to test and then create an individualized plan.

📲Tag a friend in the comments who might want to hear this!

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]

Can You Name Your 5 Microbiomes?

You’ve heard of the gut microbiome, right?

It’s those trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gut that keep our digestion and immune systems happy. 

But guess what?

That’s not the only microbiome in the human body! 

We actually have 5 microbiomes:

▪️ Gut 

▪️ Skin 

▪️ Oral 

▪️ Vaginal 

▪️ Respiratory 

Each of these has their own distinct composition of microorganisms to keep us healthy and balanced. 

And that means that all of these systems ☝️can be affected by things we do to support or disrupt our microbiome.

I’ll be sharing more posts soon all about the microbiome and tips on how to optimize yours for better health. 

Be sure to like this post ❤️ and follow along for more!

Reference

Gupta VK, Paul S, Dutta C. Geography, Ethnicity or Subsistence-Specific Variations in Human Microbiome Composition and Diversity. Front Microbiol. 2017;8:1162. Published 2017 Jun 23. [link]

3 Exercises for Digestion

Ready for better gut health?

It’s easy to get focused on food and nutrition, but don’t forget movement! Here are 3 exercises that are backed by research to support digestion.

🚶‍♀️ Walking

Walking helps to stimulate the digestive tract so you experience better bowel movements and less gas and bloating. Plus, research shows that physical activity supports a healthy gut microbiome!

🧘‍♀️ Yoga

Yoga puts the nervous system into the parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode, while also directly stimulating digestion through certain poses (like downward dog or triangle pose). Research has shown that yoga improves quality of life in people with functional digestive problems.

🏋️‍♂️ Crunches

Crunches, sit-ups, and other exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles can help to ease gas and bloating—just do them on an empty stomach!

But if you’re doing everything “right” and still struggling with gut health, we are here to help. 🥾 Take the first step through the link in our bio.

Reference

Ramos C, Gibson GR, Walton GE, Magistro D, Kinnear W, Hunter K. Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiome of Older Adults. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):674. Published 2022 Feb 5. [link]

Song BK, Han D, Brellenthin AG, Kim YS. Effects of core strengthening exercise on colon transit time in young adult women. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2021;19(3):158-165. [link]

Wilke E, Reindl W, Thomann PA, Ebert MP, Wuestenberg T, Thomann AK. Effects of yoga in inflammatory bowel diseases and on frequent IBD-associated extraintestinal symptoms like fatigue and depression. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021;45:101465 [link]