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Your body is made up of approximately 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion) micro-organisms and your intestinal tract has about a thousand known species, good and bad. In fact you have more bacteria in your body than cells (about 10 trillion). More than seventy five percent of your immune system is in your gut
Some of the more common signs of an unbalanced gut are bloating, constipation, diarrhea and gas. Even if you are not displaying these symptoms, however, the following are contributions to an unhealthy gut and microflora:
- Antibiotics
- Contraceptives or birth control
- Over-the-counter pain medication or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s)
- Surgery, especially abdominal or bowel
- Radiation Therapy
- Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, processed foods and fast foods
- Genetically modified foods such as soy, corn and wheat
- Diets low in fermentable fibers
- Food allergies/sensitivities
- Toxic, rancid oils
- Stress (especially chronic stress)
- Overweight or obesity
What does it mean to have an imbalance of intestinal flora?
You have numerous species of bacteria in your intestines. They are a delicate ratio of good bacteria which keeps you healthy and has the ability to keep bad bacteria in check. When you engage in the above lifestyle points, you disrupt the delicate balance. When this happens, you start to become sick more often, and, depending on the condition, can lead to other problems like allergies, sensitivities, disease and other health problems, including cancer.
An improper balance of gut flora has been linked to diseases and numerous studies indicate the connection between an altered microflora and the following conditions:
- Autism
- Depression
- Thyroid disorders including Hashimoto’s
- Inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Food allergies/sensitivities
- Arthritis
- Eczema
- Colds and flu
- Yeast Infections
As bad as this list looks numerous studies are indicating proper microflora can help with these conditions and the possibility of reversal of some through an improved diet, the right nutrients and supplementation with probiotics.
When it comes to your lifestyle find ways to reduce your stress levels whether it is through meditation, working with qualified therapist, and adding physical movement such as 30 minutes of exercise daily.
One of the best ways to help in re-establishing a healthy gut is through the supplementation of probiotics. There are specific probiotics for every age and condition because microflora strains are unique to the person and what their lifestyle entails. Probiotics are good for everyone from infants to seniors.
Check out these other great articles:
Saturated Fats Change Gut Bacteria–May Raise Risk for IBD such as Crohn’s Disease
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