The Gut Brain connection..
Many bacteria and other organisms live in the human gut. Many have symbiotic relationship with the gut and many are not, some are parasitic too. Our health lies in the balance between these. The good bacteria aids the enzymes in digestion, absorption of certain vitamins and minerals from the food that passes the intestine, immune function, reduce inflammation and more. They say 70-80% of the immunity lies in our gut health. There is a gut-brain connection that many doctors are acknowledging nowadays . Anxiety, behaviors, aggression and irritation which affect the brain have a very close connection to the gut health. How many times we have seen children get cranky if they have stomach pain or a bloated tummy?
What causes the gut health imbalance though? From the time of conception and birth there could be many factors contributing to it. Mom’s lifestyle and diet which provides the nutrients for baby’s growth, if a baby is born through C-Section they miss passing through the birth canal which is rich in the good biome. So they miss the bacteria wash which will expose them to the good bacteria. Breastmilk has nutrients that helps these good biome flourish in the new born baby’s gut. Breastmilk also provides immunity to the baby’s body that has not fully developed an immune system of its own. When the feeding period is less than 1 – 2 years the bad bacteria takes hold of the gut. We then follow it with food habits which are unhealthy – sugar, processed foods, allergens, foods that are hard to digest and has more toxins that the body could handle at that young age. In addition to it there are many environmental toxins that get into the body and wreck havoc in the gut. Even the water we drink contains chlorine added by the city to kill bad bacteria in it. But drinking it would kill the good gut bacteria as well. Stress is another major factor that alters the gut biome. In current times bad gut health could be the one most widely seen issue causing most diseases. With our fast changing lifestyle a lot of care and effort needs to be put into maintaining a good gut.
Common signs that show there is a microbiome imbalance in the gut.
Constipation
Bloating
Undigested food in stool
Stomach pain and toe walking
Sleep issues
Aggression and other behaviors
Silliness, intoxicated behavior
Tics. Being zoned out of the world.
Celiac and other food allergies / sensitivities.
EoE, SIBO which can be tested by a GI doctor.
Yeast, bacterial overgrowth – can be found from stool test.
Low digestive enzymes.
To bring it back to good health major lifestyle changes are neeeded.
- Start with a good healthy clean diet.
- Include greens, veggies, as much as possible.
- Grow whatever you can and prefer buying from local farmers.
- Use culinary and medicinal herbs based on needs.
- Eat seasonal produce. Add fermented foods in diet.
- Exercise. Follow the circadian rythm to eat and sleep.
- Lower stress.Grounding and connecting with nature.
- Supplements and herbals to aide the process – fiber, probiotics, enzymes.