Are your health problems starting in your gut?
The bacteria in your gut is like a unique finger print no two people have the same gut bacterial profile commonly called the microbiome.
Understanding this is important- because it’s part of the reason why choosing the right probiotic, diet, treatment plan can be such a challenge. In this post I want to look at some of the basics around how the gut impacts your overall health, and touch on what we know about common probiotics and immunity.
Immune System & Gut Health
Did you know that approximately two thirds of your immune system is located around your gut?
If certain immune factors - cytokines are triggered in your gut this will impact your systemic immunity and you may see symptoms in the skin or respiratory tract. This relationship works in reverse also if your immune system is triggered by a virus we see changes in the gut.
There is also an intimate relationship between your brain and your gut which scientists are now calling the gut brain axis. We know that a large amount of your brain chemicals (neurotransmitters like serotonin) are made in the gut.
It’s a two way highway with both of these systems- I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the saying “shit scared?” An interesting phrase of expression, but if you’ve been terrified and found yourself running off to the bathroom then you’ll appreciate that even a single emotion or thought can have a split second impact on your gut.
Studies of the microbiome is one of the fastest growing areas of health, and we know that for certain health conditions there is a microbiome “pattern.” For example people with Parkinson’s disease are known to have a decrease in the Prevotella species in their gut and an increase in a strain of E.Coli.
This shift in the microbiome is thought to have the potential to impact the production of neurotransmitters in the gut and contribute to some of the symptoms associated with the condition. The science is only just starting to uncover what we’ve known for a long time as naturopaths. Health starts in the gut!
How do we build the gut?- Microbiome?
Your microbiome goes through a natural development process:
It starts at birth- whether your born vaginally or via cesarian impacts the bacteria you develop as well as whether you’re breastfed or not. It’s complex but we know that babies born in hospitals as opposed to at home have a different bacterial picture in their guts.
Early adulthood- As your diet becomes more diverse you eat a lot of different things we see a large amount of diversity in your gut bacteria- And this diversity is one of the main contributing factors in a good healthy gut… The more variety the healthier.
Old age- Through the exposure of certain factors we’ll discuss shortly and more of a mono-diet with little diversity we see less variety in gut bacteria.
What causes gut damage?
There are a host of factors that will adversely impact your microbiome and therefore your health:
Environmental toxins- Pesticides, herbicides, chemicals in the water supply.
Diet- What you eat or don’t eat directly impacts your gut bacteria. We know that the standard western diet high in processed foods leads to a less diverse microbiome. Remember diversity is key for good gut health.
Stress- Physical and mental, to learn more about this head across to this post.
Nutrient Deficiencies.
It’s easy to dismiss a nutrient deficiency however we know that several vitamins are essential for microbiome health and therefore gut health. If you’re deficient in vitamin D you will be low in interleukin 22 which leads to an imbalance in microbiome and potentially an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria leading to more chronic gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Can probiotics make you feel worse?
In my natural health clinic I see many clients with gut issues and many of them have tried self-prescribing probiotics strains from the health food shop. Many of them reporting no improvement or even feeling worse.
We know that certain bugs commonly found in probiotics can actually lead to and increase in inflammation and an undesirable immune response.
In fact the picture is so complicated that studies have shown that the same strain of bugs Bacteroids in one study found that when given to meat eaters this bacteria stimulated one type of immune response and in vegetarians the very same bacteria evoked a completely different immune response.
This is why it’s not always as simple as just picking a probiotic off the shelf, consider each strain of bacteria has a different role it plays in the gut.
Understanding what the state of your own gut is right now is key as well as what pre and probiotics are best indicated for your current digestive picture and symptoms.
In fact we know that certain strains of bacteria found in probiotics can exacerbate autoimmune symptoms and other strains can significantly support and even reduce symptoms. So a one size fits all approach can actually lead you into some trouble when it comes to supplements and nutraceuticals.
As a general guiding principle, if you’re on antibiotics you do want to take a broad spectrum probiotic but other than that try and seek out strains specific for your individual gut symptoms and condition.
How To Improve Gut Function With A Naturopath?
Take a thorough case history- giving me a clear idea of your symptoms, and potential contributing factors.
Microbiome mapping- A functional pathology test done with a specialist lab that gives us a 4 page report on some key gut markers. You can learn more about this test here.
Application of pre and probiotics to support your gut health.
Dietary recommendations to support digestive health.
At every step of the way the treatment is individualised because no two guts are the same! This is also why this process can take some time. However working together over 4-6 sessions we can see some significant improvements in your gut health.
If you have any questions about your own struggle and how a naturopath can help please book in a complimentary 15 minute call below. I’ll call through and we can have a chat.