MICROBIOME REFERS TO THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF MICROBIAL ORGANISMS INHABITING THE HUMAN BODY INCLUDING BACTERIA, FUNGI AND VIRUSES.
THERE ARE ABOUT 10 TIMES AS MANY MICROBIAL CELLS IN THE BODY.
MOST OF THESE ORGANISMS RESIDE IN THE GUT, PARTICULARLY THE COLON.
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF BACTERIA IN THE GUT INCLUDE DISPLACEMENT OF
HARMFUL BACTERIA. SYNTHESIS OF VITAMINS, DEGRADATION OF FIBROUS FOODS AND STIMULATION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
INGESTED FOOD SPENDS ONE HOUR IN THE STOMACH, WHERE ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT IS UNFAVORABLE TO MOST MICROORGANISMS. THEN FOOD SPENDS 2 TO 6 HOURS IN THE SMALL INTESTINE WHERE MOST ABSORPTION
OCCURS. THEN FOOD REMNANTS, MOSTLY FIBER, REACH THE LARGE INTESTINE WHERE THEY REMAIN FOR AN AVERAGE OF 40 HOURS SO THAT MANY BACTERIA CAN FERMENT THE FIBER THAT CANNOT BE DIGESTED IN THE SMALL INTESTINE. THE SULFUR COMPONENT OF GAS COMING FROM FERMENTATION GIVES AN UNPLEASANT ODOR. HUMAN FECES ARE MADE UP OF ¾ OF BACTERIA
99% OF THE MICROORGANISMS IN THE GUT COME FROM BACTEROIDES AND FIRMICUTES KIND OF BACTERIA. ALSO THE SKIN IS A HABITAT FOR ORGANISMS. ATOPIC DERMATITIS IS DUE TO STAPH OVERGROWTH IN THE SKIN.
LACTOBACILLUS DISPLACEMENT BY OTHER ORGANISMS PRODUCES BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF WITH VAGINAL DISCHARGE WITH A FISHY ODOR. WHAT WE EAT MAY STIMULATE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION. HIGH FAT AND HIGH CARBOHYDRATE DIET PRODUCES INFLAMMATION WHILE A MEAL RICH IN FRUIT AND FIBER DECREASE IT. METFORMIN IS ALSO ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE GUT. OLDER AND OBESE PEOPLE HAVE MORE FIRMICUTES AND LESS BACTEROIDES. HIGH FAT AND ANTIBIOTIC USAGE DECREASES BACTEROIDES IN THE GUT. C DIFFICILE IS ANOTHER BAD BACTERIUM IN THE GUT THAT OCCURS FROM ANTIBIOTIC USE. HIGH FAT, LOW FIBER DIET MAY CAUSE COLON CANCER.
CALCIUM (IN MILK OR SUPPLEMENTS), COFFEE, BLUEBERRIES , RASPBERRIES, BEENS, LENTILS, ARTICHOKES, ASPARAGUS, GREENS, QUINOA, GREEN TEA, SALMON, NUTS, OLIVE OIL, EGGS, AND KALE ARE GOOD FOR YOUR GUT MICROBIOME. PREBIOTICS ARE IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTS THAT PROVIDE IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, PROBIOTICS ARE LIVE BACTERIA (MOSTLY LACTOBACILLUS AND BIFIDOBACTERIUM) THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF HEALTH BENEFITS. BOTH HELP WIYH CANCER PREVENTION AND WEIGHT LOSS. PRE AND PROBIOTICS ALSO HELP WITH ALLERGIES AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE GIVEN FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH TAKING ANTIBIOTICS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET A GOOD PROBIOTIC. YOGURT, SAUERKRAUT AND MISO SOUP MAY ALSO ACT AS PROBIOTICS.
ONE CAVEAT:
SMOOTHIES WHICH BREAK DOWN THE FIBER ARE DETRIMENTAL FOR THE GUT
MICROBIOME AS ONLY INTACT FIBER WORKS. THE DAMAGED FIBER STAYS IN THE GUT AND SWELLS THE STOMACH. BON APPETIT