13/08/2021
Our gut bacteria regulate many of our bodily functions, from creating vitamins to regulating our immune system, our brain function, and of course, our metabolism and weight. They are critical to our long-term health.
As a Functional Medicine doctor, I’ve been trained to always look to the gut first. Most of our modern ailments can be traced back to poor gut function. However, it wasn’t until 2017 when I got really sick that I truly understood what it meant to cultivate a healthy gut microbiome.
It was the combination of antibiotic use after a tooth infection, mold exposure, and a horseback riding accident that led to the most challenging months of my life. I had bloody diarrhea throughout the day with full-blown colitis. I lost 25 pounds (which is frightening considering how lean I am). I couldn’t stomach most foods and I was bedridden for months.
It was around this time that I did a deep dive into my own health, starting with all of the basics of Functional Medicine, including stool testing. I discovered that I had some gut infections and really low levels of beneficial bacteria. One of them was Akkermansia muciniphila, a mucus-loving bacteria that accounts for 1-5% of our gut microbiome—or at least it’s supposed to! I had virtually none, so I knew that it was time to do a complete gut overhaul, starting with removing the bad guys and building up the good guys.
Emerging research shows promise for Akkermansia as the next generation of beneficial gut microbes. Increasing my Akkermansia levels was a key part of restoring my gut function and getting my health back on track.
We are on the cusp of an explosion in Akkermansia research, which I’m personally very excited about.
