Microbiome and Libido, Mental Health, and Immunity Dr. Betsy Greenleaf DO, MBA, FACOOG, FACOG is an Premiere Pelvic Health Expert & Women’s Wellness Warrior. First Board Certified Female Urogynecologist in the United States, Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetrics & Gynecology, National Spokesperson for the American Osteopathic Association, Board Examiner, Industry Trainer, Renowned Speaker, Author, Podcast Host, Business Consultant, Entrepreneur and it doesn’t stop there. A doctor is my profession but does not define who I am. I am a down to earth soul that strives to improve the world around me with everything I touch. My ultimate goal is to show you that we all have the power to heal within us. I am your wellness guide to finding truth, power, connection, and wholeness. Show: Some of Your Parts Podcast Show:: Body Mind Spirit Show on WYTV7 Christian Broadcasting Network President of The Pelvic Floor Store: Book: You Were Made To Be Unstoppable https://drbetsygreenleaf.com/ https://greenleafbewell.com
DR. BETSY A.B. GREENLEAF DO, MBA, FACOOG, FACOG,
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, WOMEN’S HEALTH EXPERT, UROGYNECOLOGIST, TRAINER, PODCAST HOST, ENTREPRENEUR, BUSINESS CONSULTANT Copyright Dr. Betsy A.B. Greenleaf DO, FACOOG, FACOG, MBA The word microbiome has been popping up in
causes more harm than good as humans were
much health-related literature, but what is a
meant to be exposed to soil bacteria from
microbiome?
playing in the dirt as children to ingesting soil
The biome is the “flora and fauna that make
bacteria on our food. Being exposed to bene-
up an environment.” Ecologically, for exam-
ficial bacteria strengthens our immune system
ple, the types of plants and animals living in a
and keeps our system in balance.
forest versus those who live in a desert. Each
Hippocrates stated, “Let food be they medi-
environment has unique properties that cause
cine, and medicine be they food.” I also trans-
vegetation and animals to live and adapt
late this into “healthy foods support our mi-
As human beings, we live in balance with the
crobiome, and our microbiome supports us.”
bacteria that surround us.
Each portion of
Scientists know that eating a diet high in pro-
our body has a unique balance of healthy bac-
cessed foods such as fast food and high sugars
teria that make up its microbiome or micro-
deprives our system of supportive nutrients
scopic environment. For example, our skin is
for our gut microbiome.
populated with a separate bacteria population
people have gone for convenience rather than
than our gut or our mouth and even bladder
whole fresh foods and fermented foods. If we
and vagina.
We are just beginning to learn
don’t feed our beneficial bacteria, they are
the importance that these microbes provide
unable to do the work for us. Ninety percent
us. It is the symbiotic relationship of these
of our feel-good hormones such as serotonin
microbes that keeps our systems in working
are made in our gut. This is termed the gut-
order.
brain axis. Most of our immune protective
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We have been trained to think of the word
betsygreenleaf/
“bacteria” as a threatening and harmful germ
dr.betsy.greenleaf
through the marketing of anti-bacterial soaps
DrBGreenleaf Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ drbetsygreenleaf/
and hand cleaners. As a mother, I bought into this.
Whenever my toddlers touched some-
thing “dirty,” I was right behind them with the hand cleaner. But in fact, not exposing my children and myself to the bacteria around us
32 INFLUENTIAL DOCTORS MAGAZINE
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In modern times,
components are produced in our intestines. Without a healthy gut, we expose ourselves to the risk of anxiety, depression, inflammation, and chronic disease. The majority of chronic diseases such as thyroid disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even cancers can be traced back to having contributory factors in digestive microbiome dysfunc-
tion.
