top of page

Making friends with your microbiome

  • Rick Wright
  • Apr 19, 2018
  • 4 min read

Why gut bacteria is vital to your health

At some level, people have always suspected there’s a relationship between the brain and the stomach. Consider phrases like “gut instinct” or “gut feeling.” An avalanche of research is confirming this intuition, adding terms like “gut-brain axis” to the mix. Every month, new studies offer additional evidence for this profound connection.

But it’s not just two human organs talking to each other. The gut is colonized by around 100 trillion microbes — including thousands of different bacterial, fungal and viral species — that play a critical role in this constant chatter. A balanced microbial ecosystem can support good health, helping our bodies modulate hormones, neurotransmitters, inflammation and even pain.

On the other hand, an imbalanced system may play roles in cancer, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, depression and many other conditions.

“We are recognizing that when we call the gut ‘the second brain,’ it may actually be the first one,” says Robert Bonakdar, MD, director of pain management at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. “This is because what we eat — or don’t eat — can have a significant impact on gut inflammation and the makeup of our gut microbiome, which can send signals to the brain that ultimately affect many aspects of our health, our mood and how we deal with stress and pain.”

Diet and disease

Gut microbes have long been pigeonholed as either good or bad, but that’s turning out to be a major oversimplification. Like people, gut microbes have their own self-interests to look after, such as finding food and making more microbes. As long as their interests coincide with ours, everything is in balance — a condition scientists call “homeostasis.” But if the system loses homeostasis, bad things can happen.

“We are beginning to find that people who have less microbial diversity — a reduced overall population and fewer types of bacteria — are more prone to inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and certain types of chronic pain,” Dr. Bonakdar says.

“There is even preliminary research linking the microbiome to neurological conditions, including migraines, Parkinson’s and dementia. There is really no condition that has not been linked in some way to our microbial community, although the evidence is stronger in some areas.”

Many things may impact the gut microbiome: environmental toxins, stress, disease, even loud noises. However, diet — particularly the so-called Western diet, rich in unhealthy fats and carbohydrates — is likely the greatest offender.

“We know that the standard, highly processed American diet typically depletes important micronutrients and fiber,” Dr. Bonakdar says. “A number of studies have demonstrated that the transition to a Western diet in traditional countries begins to increase the occurrence of certain conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, which is highly linked to both a reduced number of microbes and a loss of microbial diversity.”

On the other hand, a healthy diet may have a positive effect on the microbiome. Early evidence hints that the same strategies that support the cardiovascular system and glucose metabolism may also help keep the microbiome in balance. In other words, exercise; eat lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables; and take steps to mitigate stress.

Probiotics and prebiotics

As people have become more aware of these gut flora, there’s been increased interest in supporting them. Two approaches are to add microbes through diet (probiotics), or to eat nutrients that support these resident microbes (prebiotics).

Some animal studies have shown that targeted probiotics can reduce pain and perform other therapeutic functions; however, the research is in its early days and caution is recommended. While it would be nice to take a pill — or eat a yogurt — to restore microbial balance, probiotic therapies face a number of challenges. The millions of bacteria in yogurt or kimchi may have a tough time integrating into an ecosystem that contains trillions. Also, for economic reasons, many retail probiotics contain only bacteria species that are easily isolated and cultured — not necessarily the most therapeutic strains.

Perhaps most importantly, one-size-fits-all solutions generally fall short. A probiotic that might help in overcoming anxiety may have little effect on inflammation. Any personalized approach should match a targeted probiotic cocktail with a patient’s specific needs.

“I think it is too early to have an absolute take on what individuals should do across the board,” says Dr. Bonakdar. “I tell patients to incorporate many different components in their diet to support good health. This means eating the rainbow of plant foods, which we

know increases our fiber and prebiotic intake, as well as incorporating various fermented foods. Specific probiotic strains may benefit certain conditions. Talk to a health care provider who can clarify the science.”

Healthy Life is brought to you by the physicians and staff of Scripps Health. For more information, or for a physician referral, visit www.scripps.org or call 1-800-Scripps. This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.

8 commentaires

Noté 0 étoile sur 5.
Pas encore de note

Ajouter une note
danielmese71
26 mars
Noté 4 étoiles sur 5.

The best part about Drive Mad is that it’s always entertaining, even when I fail. The physics make for some hilarious moments, and I often find myself laughing at how absurd some of my crashes turn out to be!

J'aime

unknownytube
20 févr.

Kaiser OTC benefits provide members with discounts on over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and health essentials, promoting better health management and cost-effective wellness solutions.


Obituaries near me help you find recent death notices, providing information about funeral services, memorials, and tributes for loved ones in your area.


is traveluro legit? Many users have had mixed experiences with the platform, so it's important to read reviews and verify deals before booking.

J'aime

BFVY IRTO
BFVY IRTO
07 janv.

代发外链 提权重点击找我;

蜘蛛池 蜘蛛池;

谷歌马甲包/ 谷歌马甲包;

谷歌霸屏 谷歌霸屏;

谷歌霸屏 谷歌霸屏

蜘蛛池 蜘蛛池

谷歌快排 谷歌快排

Google外链 Google外链

谷歌留痕 谷歌留痕

Gái Gọi…

Gái Gọi…

Dịch Vụ…

谷歌霸屏 谷歌霸屏

负面删除 负面删除

币圈推广 币圈推广

Google权重提升 Google权重提升

Google外链 Google外链

google留痕 google留痕

J'aime

Membre inconnu
17 déc. 2024

google seo google seo技术飞机TG-cheng716051;

03topgame 03topgame

gamesimes gamesimes;

Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;

Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune Tiger…

Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;

EPS машины EPS машины;

Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;

EPS Machine EPS Cutting Machine;

EPS Machine EPS and EPP…

EPP Machine EPP Shape Moulding…

EPS Machine EPS and EPP…

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding Machine

EPS Machine EPS Cutting Machine;

J'aime

Membre inconnu
17 déc. 2024
J'aime

701 Mission Avenue

 Oceanside, CA 92054

760-754-4512

badge_gold_op-P9vGCe_1690227068.png

Winner of Gold Awards for

Best Downtown

and

Best Downtown for Shopping

CA_MS_LOGO-TAG_RGB.gif
MSALOGO_TAG_RGB.PNG
2022 Reinvestment Stats_FacebookTwitterLinkedIn.png

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective 12-5-2022

© 2024 MainStreet Oceanside

Unless otherwise attributed, photography by Dave Thomas, Lu DeLucy and Road West Photography

All rights reserved.

bottom of page