5 Factors that upset Microbiome Balance
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If your gut microbiome is out of balance, it will affect your health in multiple ways.
What’s a microbiome? It’s the genetic material of all microbes—bacteria—that live on and inside your body. The good bacteria that contribute to your intestinal microbiome are essential to your health, development, immune function, and nutritional status.
it’s such a delicate balance that can easily be disrupted. Here are five factors contributing to your gut microbiome negatively
- Stress: We all deal with stress, but when it becomes chronic, studies show it can have a physical impact on the gut microbiome, leading to such gastrointestinal disorders as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Birth Method: Studies show, babies born by C-section have reduced bacterial diversity and lower levels of good bacteria than babies born via the birth canal (considering the mother already had good gut bacteria).
- Exercise: Sedentary lifestyle and lack of movement has been linked to the reduction of bacterial diversity in the gut, the more diversity of good bugs we have, the better. (Let’s get moving!)
- Antibiotics use: Taking antibiotics can disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut, as it kills off microorganisms—the bad and the good.
- Eating habits: Diets low in fiber and high in sugar can have a negative impact on gut bacteria. While fiber feeds good bacteria, sugar feeds bad bacteria, yeast, and parasites. In addition, consuming foods that have been treated with antibiotics such as conventional animal products as well as excessive alcohol consumption can reduce the good bacteria in your gut.
Do any of these situations apply to you? Fortunately, there are a few things you start changing now
1) Lifestyle changes, like effective stress management and more movement
2) Dietary modifications, including cutting back on sugar, are a place to start.
3) Probiotic supplement can help support healthy and balanced intestinal flora by recolonizing the gut with good bacteria. When choosing a quality probiotic, it is important to choose the right strains for you.
2) Dietary modifications, including cutting back on sugar, are a place to start.
3) Probiotic supplement can help support healthy and balanced intestinal flora by recolonizing the gut with good bacteria. When choosing a quality probiotic, it is important to choose the right strains for you.
References: Blog.metagenics.com. (2019). Metagenics Blog | Helping people live happier, healthier lives by realizing their genetic potential. [online] Available at: https://blog.metagenics.com/ [Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
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May 29, 2023