all hail the gut!

Our Gut Microbiome is an ecosystem within us. A collection of diverse microorganisms whose existence is essential to our health. What are these organisms inside us? Why are they so essential?

Let's start by remembering that the gastrointestinal tract is actually a long pathway that runs through our body. It is exposed to microorganisms in the air we breathe and the foods we eat. The nutrients in the foods we eat are processed here before passing into our body through the cells lining this pathway. It is here that our gut microbiome live in harmony with us. That harmony is dependent upon consuming the proper nutrients. There are 10 times the number of microbial cells in the human gut than in the entire body making the food we consume an important source of both nutrients for the gut as well as for the microorganisms that replenish the gut microbiome.

For example, eating vegetables raw provides our gut with a multitude of microorganisms found on the surface of the vegetable. Similarly, fermented vegetables offer an even greater bacterial variety than raw vegetables, thanks to the natural fermentation process that accesses the beneficial bacteria on their surface. This is food eaten as nature intended and provides a natural path to a healthier gut microbiome.

Like most ecosystems, a disruption within this system causes wide ranging effects. Since the gut microbiome exists within us and is but one ecosystem that comprises our body, there can be far reaching effects on the other interdependent ecosystems. For example, studies have reported that there is a link between the microbiome and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Individuals with PD experience dysbiosis in their microbiome, meaning their microbial composition differs significantly from those without the disease. While a causal relationship hasn’t been officially established, the imbalance in the microbiome suggests an interdependence between these two ecosystems, namely, our neurological system and our gut microbiome. This tells us a lot about the importance of a healthy gut!