Understanding the gut microbiome
The gut microbiome refers to the ecosystem of microorganisms comprising of bacteria, yeasts and fungi living in our digestive tract. We harbour trillions of them inside our bodies. Putting them together, they can weigh up to 2kg – even heavier than our brains!
Two-thirds of our gut microbiome composition is unique. It is heavily influenced by the food that we eat. Studies have also suggested that it might be partially influenced by our genes as well.
In recent years, scientists have discovered how the bacteria in our gut microbiome may have an impact our well-being. Our gut bacteria is involved in metabolism, immunity, growth, and the fermentation of undigested carbohydrates. An imbalance of the bacteria has been linked to:
Allergies
Infants with a lower diversity of gut bacteria at 3 months of age were found to be more sensitive to foods like eggs, milk and peanuts by the time they reach their first birthday.
Cancer
Specific bacteria strains in the gut have been linked to cancers such as stomach cancer and colon cancer. In addition, a low gut microbiome diversity is linked to a poorer response to cancer treatments, like chemotherapy.
Heart Health
High levels of a chemical called trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) that is produced by our gut microbiome, has been linked to death and serious cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and strokes.
Effects of too much sugar and alcohol
Consuming too much sweets and booze can upset the balance of microbes in our gut, a condition known as gut dysbiosis.
More significantly, sugar has been found to suppress a beneficial bacteria (Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) that is found in the digestive tract of healthy individuals. B. thetaiotaomicron plays a crucial role in fermenting fibre found in vegetables and fruits.
Sweeteners aren’t exactly safe substitutes either, because sweeteners like saccharin, sucralose and stevia can affect the composition of our gut microbiome too. Saccharin in particular, has been shown to cause inflammation, because it disrupts the make-up of our gut microbiome.
The overconsumption of alcohol is harmful to our bodies.
Not only does it damage the liver, alcohol has been found to reduce our gut’s ability to produce naturally occurring antibiotics. The reduction in antibiotics allows harmful bacteria to flourish, further harming the liver. In this case, the damage caused by alcohol is two-fold.
So how does your gut tell you that คาสิโนออนไลน์ UFABET ฝากถอนรวดเร็ว เริ่มต้นเล่นง่าย something is amiss? Symptoms may range from subtle to the obvious, and you might experience one or more of the following:
- Tummy bloating
- Excessive gas (flatus, burping)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach ache
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss