Imbalanced Gut Microbiome
Your gut is filled with trillions of beneficial bacteria, known as the microbiome, which are important for supporting the immune system and metabolism. A diversity of gut bacteria has been linked to human health and longevity, while lower levels of diversity are associated with several acute and chronic diseases.
A pillar of good gut health and digestion is maintaining a balance between these good and bad strains of bacteria. If you are experiencing new or uncomfortable digestive symptoms, it could be a sign that the balance of bacteria in your gut is off.
Several factors can lead to imbalanced gut bacteria, but these are some of the most common:
● A high-sugar diet. Studies show that consuming large amounts of sugar and processed foods can lessen the amounts of “good” bacteria present in the gut and increase inflammation.
● Antibiotic use. By targeting harmful bacterial infections, antibiotics inadvertently kill off other good bacteria that our bodies need. Increasingly, studies have found that even a short dose of antibiotics can have a profound negative effect on gut diversity.
● Alcohol consumption. In large amounts, alcohol has been shown to increase inflammation and the presence of “bad” bacteria in the gut (also termed dysbiosis). One study looked at the gut bacteria of 41 alcoholics and compared them to 10 healthy individuals who consumed little to no alcohol. Researchers found that imbalance was present in 27% of the alcoholic population, but it was not present in any of the healthy individuals.
● Lack of sleep. Sleep is a crucial ingredient of our overall health, and recent studies have found associations between irregular sleep patterns and harmful bacteria in the gut.
Avoiding these red flags and consuming gut-friendly foods can help improve the diversity of your gut bacteria. I recommend:
● Probiotic rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, miso, and sauerkraut.
● Prebiotic foods, which feed the good gut bacteria, like bananas, garlic, and asparagus.
● Plenty of fiber found in beans, whole grains, vegetables and fruits
Please remember that general recommendations do not suite all, and need to be tailored to the individual state of health.
For personolized approach, please reach out to me at
646-330-1431 or telehealthcore.com
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