Good Nat ured By K aren Fr ye

New Year, New You

Maintain a healthy microbiome

By K ar en Frye

Your body is home to more than 100 trillion micro -organisms. T hey live on your sk in and in ever y nook and cranny. It is like a communit y made up of bacteria, vir uses, parasites and f ungi. T his is your microbiome. It’s unique to you — a g umbo based on your genes, where you live, what you eat, your age, the amount of stress you have, even what you touch.

A healthy biome is critical to good overall health. T he largest number of micro -organisms are found in your intestinal tract and directly impact digestive health and how your body absorbs nutrients. T he bacteria that make up your microbiome also reg ulate your immune system — about 80 percent of your immune system is located in the g ut. Keeping the microbiome healthy and f unctioning well not only helps to prevent ever yday ailments like colds and flu, it prevents more serious issues, too: oral health, bone health, hear t health, v ulnerabilit y to allergies, even mental health issues like anxiet y and depression. Balance of the flora in the intestines is essential for longterm good health f rom head to toe.

W hen the microbiome becomes unbalanced (dysbiosis), it can cause intestinal inflammation, leading to leak y g ut (an unhealthy intestinal lining). T here are a few key players that contribute to this condition. T he first, of course, is genetics. Next is what we eat. Processed foods made with little attention to what’s good for the body are a major contributor to the state of health in the microbiome. Stress is also a contributing factor. It af fects ever ything! And some medications, like antibiotics, can disr upt the terrain of the g ut that leads to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria.

You can improve your g ut health by tak ing a good probiotic supplement — a huge categor y in the health world these days. You can add more fermented foods to your daily diet and increase the fiber you consume daily. Chia seeds are a personal favorite. Tr y to eat as many organic foods as possible to lessen the body’s exposure to chemicals used in the growing process. Avoid fast food, eat more f resh f r uits and vegetables. Add in more good fats like olive oil. Diets that are high in sugar and low in fiber are devastating to the microbiome. Ar tificial sweeteners can have a toxic ef fect on the f riendly bacteria in the g ut. Exercise is ver y beneficial to a healthy microbiome, increasing the diversit y of beneficial species. Avoid environmental toxins. L astly, sleep well and reduce stress.

A healthy microbiome is a major par t of a happy, healthy life. PS Karen Frye is the owner and founder of Nature’s Own and teaches yoga at the Bikram Yoga Studio.

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