How the diet of a trillion ‘gourmet’ gut microbes affects your health

Wellbeing BEING WELL

HOW THE DIET OF A TRILLION ‘GOURMET’ GUT MICROBES AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH

Did you know that our digestive tracts, in particular our large bowel, contains the highest density of microscopic organisms recorded in any habitat on Earth?

The trillions of microbiota (meaning ‘small living beings’) that live within us are fundamental in maintaining our internal eco-systems and play an integral role in digestion, metabolism, immunity and regulating inflammation.

What happens when they get out of balance?

Numerous studies have shown that the diversity and function of our gut microbiota is negatively affected by ultra-processed, refined, bleached, coloured, sweetened and packaged food. Research also shows that making the change in food choices to an array of natural plant-based food can improve the microbiome within just a few days.

I recently had a chat with Franziska Prosser, local chef, past restauranteur and now cooking coach. Her approach to cooking is transforming the way many of us think about food, and her coaching is giving people confidence to step into the world of whole-food, plant-based eating.

Franziska explains, ‘It’s mostly about the FIBRE and the diversity of the plants we eat. It’s about eating natural food – plants grown in the soil, not manufactured in a processing plant. Only plants have fibre. In our typical western diet, it has become commonplace to remove the fibre from our plants: white rice, white bread, white pasta, white sugar. It is no wonder that we see an escalation of ‘lifestyle diseases’.

‘I like to educate my clients on the value and preparation of these main food groups for optimal gut-health:

• Legumes and wholegrains (as close to the natural grain as possible) • Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, dosa • Nuts and seeds including pseudo grains (quinoa, wild rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth) • Seasonal fruit and vegetables in as great a variety as possible

The secret is to go slow in bringing on the fibre-fuelled meals to allow the microbiome to systematically heal our gut. This isn’t always going to be easy, but it is so worth it.

Nothing tastes as good as feeling good!’

If our gut microbes are not fed well, we don’t function optimally, and we develop chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory and irritable bowel issues … the list is long, and we’ve only started to scratch the surface through research.

WORDS DR MICHELLE REISS. LIFESTYLE MEDICINE PHYSICIAN,

LIFE MEDICAL CENTRE, ERINA FRANZISKA PROSSER, FOODWORXCOACHING.COM.AU

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