Gut Microbiomes and Your Health

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Gut Microbiomes and Your Health

Microbiomes Role in Nutrition and Health

Do you know there are some healthy bacteria?

While some bacteria cause diseases, millions of these perform various productive functions in your body as well. Your body is full of microscopic living things like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Together they are called the microbiome.

All body sites have their distinctive communities. The human gut houses the largest community of bacteria that includes 500 to 1000 species.

Fun Facts* There are approximately 40 trillion bacterial cells in your body and only 30 trillion human cells. You are more bacteria than a human.

What is Gut Microbiome?

There are trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic living organisms in your gastrointestinal tract. Most of these microbes exist mainly in your large intestine and are found in “pockets” called the cecum. Together they form the gut microbiome—also called gut flora and gut microbiota.

It is key to several aspects of human health, including digestion, immunity, metabolism, neurobehavioral traits, and many other integral functions. Gut bacteria supply essential nutrients, synthesize vitamin K, aid the digestion of cellulose, and promote angiogenesis.

How Gut Microbiome Affects Your Body?

Their primary function is to break down food and turn them into nutrients that your body can consume. Good bacteria are an irreplaceable part of your gut flora, and they do much more than just digesting your food.

Along with these healthy gut microbes, there are several harmful microbes as well in your gut. The imbalance between both healthy and unhealthy microbes can lead to much more than an upset stomach. The disparity can lead to weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, and many other disorders. Thankfully, the good bacteria multiply fast and don’t give space for harmful bacteria to grow. The healthy balance in your gut is called equilibrium.

Any change in the composition of the gut ecosystem can disturb this equilibrium. Many factors can aid in this variance. Some of them are:

  • Illness
  • Stress
  • Aging
  • Antibiotics
  • Bad food
  • Unhealthy lifestyle

Role Of the Gut Microbiota in Nutrition and Health

1. Gut bacteria and digestion

It lines your entire digestive system. The bacteria produce necessary enzymes, break down your food, produce chemicals that kill bad microbes, and lead to better absorption of nutrients.

2. Gut bacteria and the immune system

80 % of your immune cells are located in your gut. The gut microbiome can communicate with “immunity cells” and play an important role in how your body responds to infection. Allergy, asthma, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases can be linked to dysbiosis in gut flora.

3. Gut bacteria and diseases

The abundance of a specific type of bacteria may give rise to certain conditions such as inflammatory bowel syndrome, ulcers, bowel perforation, etc.  

4. Gut Bacteria and obesity

Gut dysbiosis (imbalance of healthy and unhealthy microbes) contributes to weight gain. Gut bacteria determines how many calories you derive from food and what nutrient you absorb. Too much gut bacteria can turn fiber into fatty acids. Studies say that gut microbiota also influences eating behavior, leading to consuming more food than required.

5. Gut bacteria and cardiac health

Studies found that gut flora plays a crucial role in promoting good HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. However, you can blame some unhealthy species for producing trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO may cause stroke and heart attacks.

6. Gut Bacteria and Diabetes

It influences blood sugar control. Gut dysbiosis reshapes the intestinal barrier and signaling pathways that either directly or indirectly affect insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.

7. Gut bacteria and brain health

It helps the brain function in several ways. The happy chemical ‘serotonin’ is primarily produced in the gut. Moreover, it is connected with the brain through the network of millions of nerves.

8. Gut bacteria and cancer

They are also linked to the third most widespread cancer—bowel cancer. In the bacteria world, there are both good guys and bad guys. Studies show that there are several DNA-damaging and carcinogenic bacteria in the human gut. However, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are known for preventing the formation of tumors.

9. Other benefits

Gut flora benefits its host in multiple ways. It regulates gut motility, transforms bile acids, absorbs minerals, and activates and destroys toxins.

How To Improve Gut Health Naturally?

It is already established that an unhealthy gut may cause many chronic diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, obesity, autism, and even cancer. Interestingly, keeping your digestive system right as rain can be one way to prevent serious illness caused by the gut microbiome.

“The majority of diseases begin in the digestive tract when good bacteria are no more able to control bad bacteria.” 

– Elie Metchnikoff

The Father of Probiotics and Nobel Laureate

15 Tips for A Healthier and Happier Gut

1. Exercise

Physical activities aid in regular and easy bowel movements. Researches have shown people following a sedentary lifestyle have a less diverse gut microbiome. You don’t need to be an Olympian to reverse the gut flora. Just 150 minutes of vigorous workout in a week can get your colon moving. Choose your muse — walking, jogging, cycling, even dancing. It doesn’t matter what physical activity you pick; just keep moving.

2. Eat Healthily

Aim for clean and healthy eating. Eating right starts with avoiding junk and including lots of fresh, unprocessed, and unadulterated foods.

3. Eat a diverse range of food

The diverse range of food means a distinct microbiome. A diet consisting of a wide variety of whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and a range of whole grains leads to a multiple gut microbiome. Each nutrient promotes the growth of a different type of bacteria. Unfortunately, the modern-day diet is devoid of diversity. No matter what diet you follow, it is important to incorporate variety in your weekly food menu.

4. Eat fermented food

Fermented food is a rich source of natural probiotics. Naturally fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir contain lactobacillus bacteria that can reduce the number of disease-causing species in the gut.

5. Avoid artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are toxic to gut bacteria. Many people consume considerable amounts of artificial sweeteners through drinks and foods without knowing. Artificial sweeteners not just disrupt the gut flora but also make good bacteria pathogenic, which attacks the wall of the intestines.

6. Eat whole grains

Guts love grains. So, swap your refined and processed grains for whole ones. They contain a healthy amount of fiber that causes the release of good enzymes to aid fiber digestion. Several studies claim that whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat/barley cereals increase bifidobacterium and lactobacillus. Thus, eating these grains boost your immune system and reduce gut inflammation. On the other hand, eating refined or processed food can lead to gut dysbiosis.

7. Chew your food properly

Eat your liquids and drink your solids. The age-old advice can be key to healthy digestion and easy bowel movement.

8. Eat prebiotics

Prebiotics promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Include prebiotic-rich food in your diet, such as apples, bananas, berries, artichokes, cocoa, etc.

9. Eat more fibers

Dietary fibers that we mainly find in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes are very beneficial for humans. It normalizes bowel movement and maintains its health, lowers cholesterol levels, controls blood sugar, and maintains a healthy weight.

10. Fluid up your body

Drinking water and healthy drinks have an advantageous effect on the intestine’s mucosal lining that aids in the growth of good gut bacteria. Hydration is vital for a healthy gut.

11. Try Plant-Based Diet

Vegetarian and vegan food reduce the population of disease-causing bacteria such as E. Coli in the gut. Thankfully, there is no dearth of variety when it comes to vegan food.

12. Avoid or reduce antibiotics intake

Antibiotics are meant to be taken cautiously and only when necessary. Antibiotics kill both harmful and good bacteria. Once stopped, the good bacteria multiply back. However, if you take antibiotics for a prolonged time, it can adversely affect the equilibrium of gut flora.

13. Eat food rich in polyphenols

Green tea, dark chocolate, etc. are packed with polyphenols that are broken down by the gut microbiome. The process stimulates healthy bacterial growth in your gut.

14. Eat smaller and frequent meals

Large meals overwhelm the gastrointestinal tract. Eat smaller meals for better digestion and induce fat burn.

15. Manage your stress level

The gut affects the stress, and stress affects the gut. The gut microbiomes affect your mental health and stimulate the growth of mood hormones. If you are feeling stressed, your gut can feel it too. Meditation, yoga, and relaxing exercises can help to manage stress levels.

Bottom line

“Gut health is the key to overall health.” – Kris Carr

A healthy gut is imperative to your body’s overall well-being. There are trillions of microbes in your gut that work harmoniously to keep you in good health. Your lifestyle dictates how it impacts your gut flora.

To supports the growth of healthy microbes; you need to eat clean, exercise, eat on time and drink plenty of fluids. Make small positive changes in your lifestyle to keep your gut healthy. VMeals can take care of menu and meal planning and get you a weekly healthy meal plan. Whatever special dietary requirements menu are, we have got you covered. Healthy and nutritious meals, rich in essential nutrients are just a click away.

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