The health of the gut microbiome is critical to our health. Before exploring this, let’s examine just exactly what a microbiome is, especially when it relates to your gut.
A microbiome consists of microorganisms in any particular environment. In the case we are studying, it is those that exist within an area of the body or a part of the body. Our survival, as well as that of every animal, depends on their very existence.
In our gut and other mucosal areas, it is estimated that 100 trillion microorganisms live. Their function, or perhaps just one of their functions, is to support our digestion, prevent pathogens entering the body and synthesising nutrients so they can be absorbed and utilised.
Maybe the microbiome could also be called the immune system. The concept of microorganisms may be easier to understand and intellectualise than the concept of an intangible immune system.
The human microbiome, or that of any other animal, consists of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. They exist in any area of the body that is moist, such as the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, gut, anus and urogenital areas.
Interestingly, this is not exactly the same for every person. Health, health care, diet, geographical location, ancestry all play a part in the variations.
A baby gets their starting microbiome from a vaginal birth. Followed by breast milk. When a baby is birthed via a caesar surgery, they lack this vital start of life protection. Wiping them with the mucous from the vagina can in some way restore this.
The health of your microbiome affects your digestion, which in turn affects your mental health, your moods as well as your general health. This includes serious chronic disease, which almost always stems from chronic inflammation.
If the human gut microbiome is so important, I imagine that you may currently be wondering if the use of antibiotics is detrimental to its health. That antibiotics may be the cause of the demise of our health. You would be right if that’s how you are thinking.
However, there are other factors which are detrimental to the health of these wonderfully supportive microorganisms. Refined foods such as white sugar and white flour, chlorinated and fluorinated water, genetically engineered food, agricultural chemicals, animal protein and other drugs such as anti-inflammatory drugs and proton pump inhibitors.
Is it any wonder that the world is so sick at the moment, when you consider that most people are eating the foods and taking the drugs which harm their microbiome?
So what can you do to retain a healthy gut microbiome or to restore one? Probably the most important areas you should address is your diet and your health care.
A microbiome diet consists of a plentiful intake of fresh fruit and veggies, organic wherever possible and as much raw as you can. It also consists of adding fermented food every day. When you make your own fermented veggies, there will be a much richer and diverse variety of healthy bacteria.
As far as health care goes, you will be far healthier if you use natural health care therapies, such as homeopathy. Good homeopathic treatment supports what your body is always trying to do, but can’t always manage – that is to keep you healthy.
Start with professional homeopathic support, then learn to use some of the common remedies yourself. This is so useful for those times when you can’t reach your homeopath – in the middle of the night, on holiday, when you can’t book in immediately.
Honour your gut microbiome and support its health! Bacteria and other pathogens have an important job to do and are not your enemy! Keep your home clean, but don’t go overboard on sterilising. Keep yourself clean but expose yourself, and especially your kids, to germs – in the garden, from animals. You’ll all be a lot more resistant to those harmful infections.