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ou are not a completely solitary being. Believe it or not, you have microscopic bugs living inside of you. To be more specific, there are more microbial cells (40 trillion) than human cells (30 trillion) in your body1. Your body is made of water, minerals, protein, fat, bones and also trillions of bacteria, fungus and virus. You have these microscopic “pets” in your gut system known as the gut microbiota that helps with your emotional wellbeing and many other things. The growing research in discovering the vital function of the gut microbes is changing the paradigm of them being disease-causing to health-promoting (excluding the pathogenic microbes). Though they are invisible to the naked eye, they are not to be underestimated. In fact, to be happier and healthier you need to please your symbiotic housemates. Happy gut, happy life.
population3, a balanced ratio of the Firmicutes species of bacteria and the Bacteriodetes species of bacteria4, stability and resilience5 to cope with insults and lastly, perform a myriad of functions6 to regulate, digest, detoxify and release good stuff. The gut microbiota break down food that the body can’t digest. They absolutely love prebiotic fibres. As they digest the prebiotic fibres, the microbes produce important
due to the existence of the vagus nerve that connects the gut and the brain and they send signals to each other11. The neurotransmitters that are produced in both the gut and the brain contribute to feelings and emotions. What these gut microbes can do is like a miracle pill. But when a human host does not provide the right food for the microbes to thrive and grow, there is a dysbiosis, which has been linked to various
A baby is first exposed to the microorganism from their mother during a vaginal delivery and at breastfeeding. The first 1000 days of life are critical for the building of the microbial population in a baby’s gut. There are a number of factors that contribute to a baby’s gut microbiota12, such as: the mother’s health status and diet during pregnancy, vaginal or caesarean birth, breastfed or formula-fed, exposure to antibiotics, and more.
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Believe it or not, there are more microbial cells (40 trillion) than human cells (30 trillion) in our body.
A healthy gut microbiome provides the host (no pun intended) with numerous health benefits. A person who has a healthy gut microbiome will have more energy, fewer allergies and better immune protection, digestion, weight management, mental clarity and emotional wellbeing. This is known as symbiosis; both the human (as host) and the microbes (recipient) benefit from each other2. A healthy gut microbiome is meant to have diversity in the 14
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JULY 2023
neurotransmitters, vitamins and nutrients, and short chain fatty acids such as butyrate, acetate and propionate7. These by-products provide protection to the gut lining, regulate the immune system, maintain glucose stability, reduce inflammation, regulate appetite8, protect the nerve cells from damage9 and maintain health to the gut lining10. Interestingly, the gut has been coined as the second brain
diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, colon cancer, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, coeliac disease, arthritis, anxiety, depression and more2.
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We all have our own unique microbial profile that begins from the womb and becomes modified depending on our diet and lifestyle.
Babies who are exposed to a healthy maternal diet and status, born through a vaginal birth, breastfed longer before eating solid food and not exposed to antibiotics, have a higher probability in establishing a stronger immune system, less allergies and healthier development12. A mother with high body mass index and underlying disease, along with habits of not exercising, eating non-nutritious food, smoking or
ANDRES AYRTON—PEXELS
a symbiotic relationship
JULY 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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