Bacteria are important. I say this as an admitted germaphobe (thank you, microbiology lab from which I will never recover…). The right bacteria are incredibly important to keep us safe from the bad bacteria. Think of them like the unsung heroes of our immune systems. In fact, the bacteria in our gut protect our gut lining, are our first line of defence for our immune system, produce our ‘happy mood’ chemicals, regulate our metabolism, even digest undigestible foods for us so we can reap the nutritional benefits.
There is such a strong link between what’s happening in our guts and the corresponding changes in our brain. Recent studies have linked gut health with Parkinson’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, anxiety,
So what can you do to improve your gut bacteria?
Probiotics - taking a high-quality probiotic is helpful, especially if you’ve had to take an antibiotic that might have killed off some of the beneficial bacteria along with the bad ones. Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and sauerkraut are great to add to your diet as well.
Dietary changes - making sure you’re eating the foods that support the good bacteria and not the bad ones is also incredibly important. Studies show that your diet is incredibly important for which bacteria survive and which ones die in your gut. Dietary changes changed the proportion of types of bacteria in the gut as quickly as a few days post-dietary change.
Feed the good bacteria - or else! - studies show that if the good bacteria are being starved because your diet is lacking the type of the fibre they eat, they’ll turn on you and eat your gut lining instead to survive.
How do you keep the right bacteria well fed while starving out the bad ones? It’s actually pretty simple. Eat more fruits and veggies and limit sugar and refined carbohydrates. There’s actually some evidence that whole grains, in general, are harmful to the microbiome, so getting most of your carbohydrates from vegetable sources is your best bet.
Think positively - there is such a strong brain-gut connection that your thoughts can impact your gut health and vice versa. Decreasing stress and trying to encourage a parasympathetic state are very beneficial to your gut microbiome.
See a specialist in gut health - naturopathic doctors and gastroenterologists are great to chat with about ways to improve your gut health. You can see talk to your doctor about a referral and see the recommendations page for the Naturopathic Doctors I typically recommend.
Till next time, folks!