Fun Fact Friday: Your Body is an Ecosystem, Treat it Thus.

Growing up in the house of a Chiropractor, in which health was prioritized, I was quite familiar with the terms microbiome, probiotics and flora. I knew that microbiome was a scientific word for the ecosystem in my intestines and that probiotics/flora are a reference to the bacteria living in that ecosystem, but I never truely grasped the importance that these things play in my total body and mind health. In this blog post, we are going to look at how this ecosystem can affect our health and how to encourage a healthy environment for good bacteria to florish (<---- pun).

A person on average has about 5 pounds of microbes in their gut creating a diverse ecosystem. The more diverse this ecosystem, the more healthy the individual. It's a common thought that certain genetics make some people more susceptible to weight gain, but receint studies have shown that certain bacteria plays a role in influencing those genes, making that person likely to put on weight. When bacteria that is commonly found in fit person's gut was introduced to the ecosystem of the people that put on weight easy they actually lost weight! More and more studies are coming out linking weight gain to lacking certain bacteria or having unhealthy bacteria in our gastrointestinal tracts. Unhealthy Microbiome might not only be affecting your weight, but it also increases your risk of cancer and mental health issues.

So, what are some simple ways to improve your gut health? Eating raw fruits and vegetables are a great way to start. Eating/drinking fermented foods like sauekraut, pickles, miso, kefir, and Kumbocha are rich with good probiotics and help create healthy ecosystem. Things to avoid if you have gut issues: gluten, refined sugars, fried and processed foods, and dairy. I recently have realized that my own gut health is not where i'd like it to be, so I have been implimenting some of these into my diet and it's been awesome to see how much I already feel better!

In conclusion, take care of your gut! It's an ecosystem of its own and it affects your health. If you have been struggling with stubborn fat or have the winter blues, try eating your way to health with gut friendly foods!