30/01/2023
Our gut is host to thousands of different species of bacteria, collectively known as the microbiome. These mainly live in the large intestine and this community of bacteria (and the metabolites they produce) are in constant talk with the rest of our body and can exert a huge effect on how our bodies behave.
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I'm sure you've heard about how important gut health is in terms of good immunity, but did you know that how our gut behaves directly influences our brain, affecting our mood and response to stress? It's all about the bacteria and what they produce that goes on to modulate our brain chemistry. For example, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are produced by our microbiome cross the blood brain barrier and enter the central nervous system, influencing the production and regulation of neurotransmitters.
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This is why it's so important to look to the health of the gut even when there aren't necessarily lots of gut-related symptoms. It is also why gut testing can be a useful tool in clinic, to get to the bottom of any persistent symptoms or chronic issues.
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However, when looking at the results it's important to remember that it's more about the relationship between the microbes than the individual levels themselves.
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A potentially pathogenic bacteria might be moderately raised, but instead of panicking and going straight in with an anti-microbial protocol to kill it off, we would work to raise and optimise the other, more beneficial, bacteria. This would then keep the other 'bad' bacteria in check. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for anti-microbials, and sometimes anti-biotics for some more serious cases, but these aren't always the first port of call.
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We're looking for a symbiotic, friendly party of microbes in our gut where everyone's welcome (to some extent) – the tipsy friends (potentially pathogenic bacteria) are kept in check by the sober ones...and everyone has a great time and nothing gets broken!
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Are you struggling with your gut? Curious about how gut testing can help you figure out your symptoms?
Get in touch for a free chat to find out how we can work together...
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