Human milk itself, is filled with a unique substance that babies can’t digest without the help of the microbiome they develop in their guts.
The Importance of Our Microbial Friends
M
Silvia Graber, Registered Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner specializing in digestion and mental health.
icrobes, a micro-organism nearly invisible to the naked eye, have existed 90 percent longer than we humans have, invisibly evolving for millions of years. Every square inch of space contains billions of microbes. Before humans, microbes were the only life form on Earth. Microbes not only impact the shape of many of our organs, they replace dying and damaged cells and help our bodies absorb and store nutrients and fat. Plants, animals and humans would die without these lifelong microbial hitchhikers. From the moment of birth, microbes have helped to bolster our immune systems, helping our bodies learn to live with virus’s that enter our bloodstream.
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In some cases, microbes are simultaneous deadly and healing especially if allowed to overgrow. So what can happen to disrupt this delicate balance in our guts? Modern farming practices are a big contributor, among many. Chemical herbicides and pesticides have stripped our food of essential nutrients and are contributing to intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut. The chemical Glysophate that is found in trace amounts in most conventional foods, puts a strain on the immune system, and kills microbes by interfering with the metabolic pathways of plant bugs, and also, our own gut bugs. Can you imagine the long-term consequence of this? Scientists hypothesize that a decrease in the diversity of microorganisms in the soil driven by industrial farming methods could contribute to loss of diversity in the human gut microbiome, decreasing immunity and contributing to chronic health conditions. The nutritional value of many foods is also specifically affected by the quality of the soil. This can have important consequences
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www.picklespantry.ca I 250-266-2464 for human health. The effects are less evident in processed foods, which are often artificially supplemented with minerals and vitamins. As our health statistics show us, we are living longer, thanks to technology, but we are collectively getting sicker, not healthier. Presently, the lack of a rich microbial ecosystem, especially in our sterile hospital environments, and now, in many people’s own homes and workplaces, might be causing more harm than good, leading to drug resistant strains of powerful super-bugs and infection-causing viruses. The overuse of antibiotics, and more recently, hand sanitizer, and antiseptic cleaners, is also impacting our ability to maintain a balance of healthy microbes in our bodies and environments. Studies continue to prove that harmful species will exploit areas with too few good bacteria to
bad comICS
fight back. Sterility should not be our goal. What can we do to improve this scenario? We can start with our own microbiome. Feeding our beneficial bacteria with foods that nurture our gut linings, and sustain a strong army in our own bodies, that is capable of fighting off even the most aggressive of bullies. High fibre foods such as raw vegetables, fruits, sauerkraut, natural home-made yogourt, raw butter, and fish oils are all good examples of gut-friendly foods. Avoid foods that rob our bodies of nutrients and cause inflammation, such as processed, refined foods and ‘junk food’. We can also adjust our environment and lifestyle by switching to all natural non toxic home and beauty products. Eat organic, farm fresh food, especially from our own garden or someone local, and eat them unwashed! Yes, a little dirt is okay and actually may be beneficial for our own microbial diversity. And finally, we can expose our hands and feet to the earth sometimes whether its from gardening or walking barefoot. Exposing our bodies to a diversity of beneficial bacteria, weather its from a probiotic, or preferably from nature, is one of the most important ways we can build immunity and strength in our own body, and keeps us connected and ultimately, helps us remember where we came from... You can book a consultation with Silvia at sageheartnutrition@ gmail.com or visit her website at sageheartnutrition. wordpress.com
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by Shiloh Badman
