{"id":17739,"date":"2023-07-05T11:03:54","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T19:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premierfitnesscamp.com\/?p=17739"},"modified":"2023-10-16T11:39:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T19:39:10","slug":"understanding-microbiomes-embracing-hidden-heroes-body-healthy-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premierfitnesscamp.com\/blog\/eat\/understanding-microbiomes-embracing-hidden-heroes-body-healthy-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Microbiomes: Embracing the Hidden Heroes in Your Body for a Healthy Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we refer to bacteria, fungi, and viruses, it’s usually in terms of sickness. But did you know that there are over 100 trillion microbes (living organisms) in your body? That’s right, we are a big bag of walking and talking bacteria! Much of this bacteria is beneficial and actually critical to our overall health, as it communicates with most cells in our body. In this respect, we need to understand, elevate, and maintain the good bacteria in our bodies. This explains why you might have been hearing a great deal about prebiotics and probiotics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, let’s define a few terms:<\/b><\/p>\n

Microbiome:<\/b> our unique ecosystem of microorganisms that live in and on our body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Microbes: <\/b>a collective term for microscopic organisms that include bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and protozoa.<\/span><\/p>\n

IMPORTANT ROLES OF OUR MICROBIOME:<\/span><\/h3>\n

1. Promotes regular bowel movements<\/b> by enhancing motility, regulating intestinal pH levels, and influencing increased water content in the colon.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Improves immunity<\/b>, which is essential for the development of our immune system by protecting us from pathogens. Beneficial gut bacteria can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory depending on our needs. Reduced bacterial diversity can cause the immune system to overreact, leading to autoimmune responses or allergies.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Supports mood<\/b> because the bacteria in the gut can help create, synthesize, and modulate many of the same neurotransmitters as the brain, including GABA, norepinephrine, serotonin, melatonin, and acetylcholine.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Manages cravings and behaviors<\/b> by sending regulatory chemical signals that control hunger and intestinal motility.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Manages inflammation<\/b> – When your gut bacteria becomes unbalanced, it can frequently cause intestinal inflammation by altering the expression of the genes that regulate inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Modulates Vitamins<\/b> – Gut bacteria help us extract nutrients from our food and produce essential nutrients such as antioxidants, B vitamins, and short-chain fatty acids.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Modulates and regulates human responses<\/b> through chemical signals, including metabolism, fertility, and growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Influences genetic material<\/b> by swapping genes or turning them on or off. If a substance is not ‘approved,’ the bacteria will send a signal to the immune system to eliminate it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Development of Your Microbiome<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The development of our microbiome actually begins in the womb; the umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, and the placenta have a microbiome. Whether you were born vaginally or via c-section, also influences your microbiome.\u00a0 The birth canal exposures a baby to a diverse microbiome, further diversifying their microbial ecosystem therefore contributing to a stronger immune system. Throughout the rest of our lives, our exposure to foods, dirt, people and our general environment affects our microbiome richness and diversity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Probiotics<\/b><\/p>\n

Many fermented foods may contain probiotics, which are naturally produced during the fermentation process or by adding probiotic strains during production. <\/span>Note: the quantities of beneficial microbes found in dietary sources vary between brands due to differences in ingredients, preparation, packaging, and distribution methods.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n