Gut health

Depleting your Gut Bacteria May Keep You Thin!

Key Message: The absence of certain gut bacteria has been shown to burn more calories

Action Point: Further research will hopefully identify new ways to suppress or modify the gut bacteria in an effort to reduce obesity
In the past few years, research has started to show how microbiota (AKA gut bacteria) has an impact on the way calories are absorbed and how fat cells develop. Now, scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland have recently been able to demonstrate on mice how the absence of microbiota has a remarkable effect against obesity which could revolutionise new anti-obesity treatments.

They have discovered that the absence of gut bacteria in mice triggers a surprising metabolic mechanism: an increase in white fat cells, which in fact cause obesity and insulin resistance. These white fat cells are transformed by gut bacteria into cells known as “beige fat” which are similar to brown fat in that they protect the body against excess weight and its consequences.

White fat, which is used as energy storage, makes up around 25% of the body mass of a healthy person. However an excess of white fat contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes while brown fat does the opposite. Cells, similar to brown fat, called beige fat, can develop within white fat, a process known as “browning” as a response to cold or exercise.

The increased production of beige fat within white fat means the more calories burned and this then suggests that a way to reduce obesity and limit insulin resistance could be to stimulate beige fat growth.

It has only been recently that scientists have started to understand the unexpected role of gut microbiota. Researchers from UNIGE Faculty of Medicine have shown that it […]

By |January 20th, 2016|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
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What is Resistant Starch?

Key Message: Resistant starch plays an important role in our diet and helps maintain intestinal health
Action Point: Choose whole, unprocessed sources of carbohydrates such as wholegrains, fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes
Resistant starch (RS) plays an important role in our diet. It is a type of starch that isn’t fully broken down and absorbed in the small intestine, but rather turned into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) by intestinal bacteria. SCFAs can be absorbed into the body from the colon or stay put and be used by colonic bacteria for energy.

The amount of SCFAs we have in our colon is related to the amount and type of carbohydrate we consume. And if we eat plenty of RS, we have plenty of SCFAs. But the most important of these SCFA’s is butyrate, which is actually the preferred fuel of the cells that line the colon. So, by increasing the amount of butyrate, resistant starch feeds both the friendly bacteria and indirectly feeds the cell in the colon. 1
What makes a starch “resistant”?
Most of the carbohydrates in our diets are starches. All starches are composed of two types of polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin.

Amylopectin is broken down quickly, which means it produces a bigger rise in blood sugar (glucose) and subsequently, a large rise in insulin. Examples are waxy rice, maize and potato starch.

Amylose predominates in RS. Foods high in amylose are digested more slowly and are less likely to spoke blood glucose or insulin. Examples are beans and other legumes.

Not all the starch we eat gets digested and it is therefore resistant to digestion. We call this resistant starch,which acts like soluble fibre.
What are the health benefits of resistant starch?
Eating foods rich in resistant starch nourishes your […]

By |January 17th, 2016|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Research, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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How Good Bacteria Can Lower Your Stress Levels

Key Message: The type of bacteria in your gut can determine your emotional state

Action Point: Try to introduce some good bacteria sources into your daily diet such as Kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, and probiotic drinks
Lots of things in life can make a person stress. Lack of money. Pressures at work. Lack of healthy gut bacteria.

Wait, what? Lack of healthy gut bacteria?

Yes! According to growing research, the type of bacteria a person has in their gut determines more than just their health. It also determines their emotional state.

What is Healthy Gut Bacteria?

Within the gut there are multiple colonies of bacteria, living, breathing, and reproducing. Some of the bacteria colonies are good for you. They promote health and they promote wellbeing. Some of these colonies, on the other hand, are bad for you. They tax the gut and hamper the body’s ability to ward off infection.

Gut microbiota is incredibly sensitive. Small changes one way or another can have a profound impact on the body. Some of the good strains of bacteria you might have heard of previously include lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, streptococcus, and bacillus.

How Does Gut Bacteria Affect Stress Levels?

For years, the gut has been referred to as the second nervous system.

An intimate connection exists between the gut and the brain, often alluded to as the gut-brain axis. Evidence shows that both can alter the functioning of the other. That’s why, if you ever experience bouts of extreme anxiety, you’ll find your stomach growls and you lose your appetite. It also works in reverse. If you eat too much junk food, you’ll usually find your mood changes significantly and you have brain fog and problems concentrating.

Because bacteria plays such a large role in absorbing nutrients from food, defending against […]

By |December 13th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
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Stomach Bacteria Shapes Cardiac Health

Key Message: A healthy gut is essential for a healthy heart

Action Point: Take good care of your gut by eating fermented and probiotic-rich foods and limit intake of added sugars
If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, you’ve no doubt heard that the balance of bacteria in our gut can influence our digestive health, weight, and even emotional and mental health. Now new research is showing that a healthy gut is essential for another very important reason – it may increase your chances of having a healthy heart.

The new study, from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, found that the composition of a person’s gut bacteria can explain four percent of the variations seen in people’s HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, five percent of the differences in people’s body weight, and up to six percent of the variation in people’s triglyceride (blood fat) levels.

But during the study, researchers found no link between gut bacteria and people’s LDL cholesterol or total cholesterol levels, which was surprising given that epidemiological studies have found that lipid levels usually have a high degree of correlation.

However lipid metabolism is very complicated and therefore it will take more research to establish the effect of gut bacteria on specific types of lipids, as well as to understand how diet can alter microbial composition.

According to Jingyuan Fu, an associate professor of genetics at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands and lead author of the new study, said that scientists can probably also call gut bacteria “the heart in the gut”.

While the research is still in its infancy, understanding the link between the gut microbiome and heart health factors could help scientists develop new treatments to prevent heart disease. The […]

By |November 15th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
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The Link between Biofilms and Chronic Infections

 

Key Message: Biofilms are common and can cause chronic infections

Action Point: There are holistic steps you can take to treat and eliminate the issue of chronic biofilm as antibiotics are ineffective
If you have ever had any recurrent infections such as chronic ear infections, chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, lung infections or chronic fatigue that just won’t go away even with multiple courses of antibiotics, then biofilm may be the cause. But biofilms are not only limited to chronic infections. They can also cause more severe diseases such as autoimmune diseases, Lyme disease and kidney stones.

The issue of biofilm is regularly overlooked when treating chronic illness, yet it affects millions of people in the developed world each year. Recently it has been gaining more attention among scientists, microbiologists and medical professionals.

But what exactly are biofilms? They are complex communities of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast and algae that live together and adapt to various environment conditions. It was once thought that they existed as individual cells, however it is now known that they start off with a few microbes forming a thin layer of slime and eventually form complex colonies, which develop into communities of millions of microbes. They can be found all over the environment and are often found on surfaces that are wet and exposed to moisture. For example the slime on top of ponds and even the plaque on your teeth is biofilm.

It seems that people with lower immune systems are more susceptible to biofilm infections as they tend to form with greater ease in such individuals. In the 19th century, a French scientist, Antonine Bechamp suggested, “it is the internal terrain/ environment of the individual which determines our susceptibility to disease”. This […]

By |October 25th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Immune Health, Nutrition, Research|0 Comments
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Find Out How To Reduce The Risk of Eczema by Almost 50%

Key Message: Probiotics can reduce eczema

Action Point: Talk to your naturopath about the most suitable supplement for you
A study published last month has showed astounding results for mums and bubs alike. The incidence of childhood eczema is high with almost one in five bubbas being affected. This can be debilitating and heart breaking but there is now proof that certain strains of probiotics can help.
In this study, 415 pregnant women were divided into two groups. From 36 weeks of pregnancy until 12 weeks post birth, one group took a probiotic milk supplement while the others were given a placebo.
The researchers evaluated the children at six years of age and assessed them for eczema, asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic sensitisation. There was a statistically significant 52% decrease in the risk of eczema in the probiotic group.
I have written previously how probiotics can improve a childs immunity , and how they affect our health, and this study just adds to the evidence that probiotics can profoundly support and optimise so many aspects of our health.

 

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By |October 14th, 2015|Children, Gut health, Immune Health|0 Comments
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The Effects of Eating Organic Food

Key Message: There are many benefits from eating organic foods

Action Point: Eat organic foods or grow your own to improve your health and physical wellbeing
More and more grocery stores are beginning to stock organic produce. Whereas once these items made up a small selection of available products, they now make up a sizeable proportion of any large store’s stock. From meat, to veg, to fruit – organic is everywhere.

If you’ve seen organic food in your local grocery store, you’ll have noticed it costs a little more than the same item in non-organic form. There’s a reason for this. Organic foods are made without the use of hormones and artificial growth enhancers. This means such products can’t be produced on mass. That’s a good thing though, especially when it comes to your health.

Organic food provides a range of benefits. Here are some of the most important.
More Nutrients
Sometimes, food tastes so good, we actually forget what our reason for eating it is: To stay healthy.

When it comes to comparing the nutrient profiles of organic and non-organic food, there’s only one clear winner. The European Union was one of the main bodies to confirm this, having conducted a multi-million dollar study into the effectiveness of organic produce.

Not only are organic products grown in a higher class of soil, they’re allowed to develop as nature intended them to – which can only mean they’re packed full of goodness. You can reduce vitamin and mineral deficiencies simply by changing your diet.
Better Taste
Organic foods taste better. Sure, there are probably studies that confirm this, but why bother listening to them when you have your own set of tastebuds?

Chicken, tomatoes, green vegetables, and eggs are all foods that taste far […]

By |October 11th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research, Weight Loss|0 Comments
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Gut bacteria indicated in toddler tantrums

Key Message: Gut microbiome composition is associated with temperament during early childhood.

Action point: Ensure your child’s microbiome is supported with appropriate probiotics. I use probiotic therapy in all my little patients with great success.

Had a gut-full of your two-year-old’s tantrums? Believe it or not, their digestive health might be contributing to the problem.

Microbes in the GI tract may play a surprising role in toddler temperament, according to a new study from the Ohio State University1.

Researchers have become increasingly interested in how the population of bacteria in the gut (known as gut microbiome) affects health. Studies have already linked gut bacteria to conditions including obesity, allergies and bowel disease. Now researchers are interested in finding out if gut bacteria is also linked to mood and behaviour.

The complex ecosystem of microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract is known to change considerably in the first two years of life, especially as solid foods are introduced into a child’s diet. And according to a new study, this unstable “gut microbiome” and a toddler’s temperament are linked.
The importance of the gut in early life
Determining the dynamics of the behaviour–gut associations in early life is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, many physical and mental health conditions such as obesity and anxiety have early life precursors. Also, research suggests that the gut microbiome may be more malleable in early versus later life.

By approximately two years of age, our gut microbiota is established and relatively stable. Although the gut microbiome changes in response to illness, diet and antibiotics, the overall profile tends to revert to normal after the disruption has passed.
The study
For the study, the researchers examined the different genetic types and varying amounts of bacteria found in stool samples from 41 boys and […]

By |August 8th, 2015|Children, Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Research|0 Comments
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Probiotics Can Put A Smile on Your Dial

A study epublished in April 2015 reports that probiotic supplementation improves negative thoughts accompanying sad mood. The National Institute of Mental Health states that an estimated 16 million American adults (6.9%) had at least one major depressive episode in the past year with an additional 1.5% experiencing a milder form of depression known as dysthymic disorder.
In this triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, 40 subjects without mood disorders received supplementation for four weeks with a placebo or a multi-species probiotic, which included Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Lactococcus lactis. The investigators evaluated cognitive reactivity to sad mood using the Leiden index of depression sensitivity scale at the beginning of the study and again after the supplementation period. Increased cognitive reactivity to normal, temporary alterations in sad mood is considered to be an indicator of how susceptible a person is to depression.
The subjects in the probiotic group experienced a significantly reduced overall cognitive reactivity to sad mood compared to the placebo group. The reduced overall cognitive reactivity was accompanied by less rumination and fewer aggressive thoughts.
The study authors stated, “These results provide the first evidence that the intake of probiotics may help reduce negative thoughts associated with sad mood. Probiotics supplementation warrants further research as a potential preventive strategy for depression.”
Reference:
Steenbergen L, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2015 Apr 7

By |July 22nd, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Naturopathy, Preconception & Pregnancy, Research|0 Comments
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The hidden way that junk food is making you fat

Key message: Junk food can destroy the good gut microbes in your body that help you keep thin.

Action point: Restrict your intake of fast foods and include foods in your diet that encourage the growth of good gut bacteria. These include yogurts, root vegetables, nuts, olives and high-fibre foods.
 
Want another reason to not eat junk food? New research shows fast food kills off the bugs that make you thin.
Leading academic and author of the new book The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat, Professor Tim Spector believes he has uncovered a vital piece of the puzzle that could help explain our rising obesity epidemic.

Spector, who is professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, researches the link between microbes, food and health.

During his research, he experimented with several unusual diets and recorded their effects on gut microbes. In one experiment, he enlisted the help of his son, Tom who agreed to a diet of fast food, including sweetened carbonated beverages, for 10 consecutive days. The researchers then tracked the microbes by collecting stool samples before, during and after Tom’s diet, and sent them to three different labs to check consistency.

Apart from the intensive diet making him feel temporarily ill, the results all told the same story: Tom’s community of gut microbes had been devastated.

The clearest marker of an unhealthy gut is losing species diversity and after just a few days Tom had lost an estimated 1,400 species – nearly 40 per cent of his total. The changes persisted and even two weeks after the diet his microbes had not recovered.

This is bad news, according to Spector, who said this loss of good microbes could affect the body’s metabolism and immune system. […]

By |July 18th, 2015|Gut health, Health & Wellbeing, Nutrition, Research, Weight Loss|0 Comments
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How to Heal Your Adrenals Naturally

How to Heal Your Adrenals Naturally

Adrenal fatigue is one of the most under diagnosed illnesses in western society. Download a copy of my free ebook to learn about the symptoms and how to heal your Adrenals naturally.

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