Photos Courtesy of BIOHM
Special Interview with the co-founder of Biohm and the author of ’Total Gut Balance’ Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUT HEALTH & PROBIOTICS Written by Kate Celenk, Editor-in-Chief
What is ‘gut health’ and why should you pay attention to your gut health? Gut health refers to the optimal physical function of our digestive system. When you have a healthy gut, your organs all work together in harmony to allow you to eat and digest food without discomfort and unwanted gastrointestinal symptoms. Recent discoveries have shown that having a healthy digestive system is dependent on harboring a balanced gut microbiome. The microbiome is defined as the collection of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites that live on and in our bodies (specifically the bacterial and fungal communities residing in our gut). Bacteria and fungi, when in balance
(in homeostasis or equilibrium), work together for our benefit to break down food and turn it into small nutrients that our body can use to provide us with energy and macronutrients (proteins, carbs, fat, etc.). These macronutrients enter the bloodstream, distribute to different organs and tissues, and support the growth of our cells. Like society, some of these microbes are “good guys” and some are “bad” ones. The good news is that the good guys keep the bad guys under control. Some good examples are probiotic strains such as the bacteria Lactobacillus and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, which keep Candida (a pathogen that can cause disease) under control. Having a balanced microbiome will not only improve gut health but also these microbes exert
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influence beyond the gut to improve/ maintain overall physical and mental wellness. A healthy gut with a balanced microbiome will positively impact overall health. Balance is a beautiful thing; it brings calmness to life and calmness to the gut, too. When this balance is disrupted (a situation we call dysbiosis), problems can take root and ripple throughout the whole system. Dysbiosis is the result of complex interactions between fungi and bacteria residing in our gut. An uncorrected gut imbalance will result in disease and dysfunction. Microbial imbalance puts your beneficial microbial communities at risk and gives the pathogens a foothold, often
