How To Know If Your Microbiome Is Healthy

Do Microbes Cause Disease

Science has shown that the gut microbiome has been linked to many chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, depression, autoimmune, and more. Our microbes help us to digest food and absorb nutrients. They help to combat disease and improve our health. However, you need the right balance of microbes for this to work for you. When your gut is in a state of dysbiosis, your microbes are out of balance and producing more toxins than beneficial nutrients. Too many of the wrong kind of microbes and you could suffer from unpleasant symptoms. Too few of the right kind of microbes and you could experience unwanted issues. The key to good health is to find and maintain the right balance for you. A gut health test kit can be very helpful in determining this balance.

What Is The Viome Gut Bacteria Test Kit

Viome is leading the way among other microbiome testing companies. Utilizing only the latest technology, Viome offers extremely comprehensive results after analyzing your gut at a molecular level. This means that those who opt for this test kit will have the most personalized information to make food choices from. Unlike other test companies, Viome offers a recommended diet for each individual based on the function of their microbes. Viome’s recommendations will help anyone who takes this test maintain a healthy body weight for the long term. Those who buy and use Viomes gut bacteria test kit are in an excellent position to improve their overall well-being by understanding exactly whats happening in their gut instead of just guessing.

While the discovery of the human gut microbiome is fairly new, it is an important and exciting discovery. When a person uses Viome’s gut test, it can help to improve his or her overall wellness exponentially. If youre suffering from a host of symptoms, its worth getting tested to find out if your gut could be the source. Try Viomes gut test today and feel the difference.;

Try To Cut Back On The Red Meat

Aside from the fact that these days, many meat brands are known for raising their livestock with antibiotics, which is detrimental to your gut, there have been several studies that show healthier microbiomes in vegetarians. A vegetarians gut for example, will have a significantly smaller number of disease-causing bacteria that an omnivores gut. However, it is still unclear if this is due to the lack of meat being consumed, or the fact that vegetarians and plant-based individuals tend to consume a great deal more fibre than the average person.

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How The Microbiome Diet Works

Gut microbes respond quickly to a change in diet. In fact, the lifespan of a microbe is only about 20 minutes, meaning the composition of your microbiome can be changed quickly by eating foods healthy bacteria thrive on.;

Prebiotics and probiotics are the building blocks of the microbiome diet. Adding just one to three servings of these foods to your everyday diet can feed and nurture your microbiome.;

Typical western diets heavy in sugar, artificial sweeteners, chemical preservatives and refined carbohydrates have the opposite effect and nourish bad bacteria which can cause inflammation and weight gain. When bad bacteria flourish, they kill off helpful microbes and throw off the balance of your microbiome.

In addition, a limited diet can also reduce the diversity of microbes in your gut and throw off their balance.;

Finally, A lot of medications can also cause harm to the microbes that can lead to an unbalanced microbiome, Patty says. This can result in decreased vitality of the immune system and reduced ability by the body to stay healthy when its exposed to environmental challenges.

The microbiome diet works by introducing probiotics, prebiotics and a wide assortment of healthy foods microbes love, in order to create a balanced, diverse microbiome that keeps you healthy and allows your body to function normally.;

When To Wake Up

Let your body wake up naturally

Sleeping in line with your bodys natural circadian rhythm is important for good sleep and a healthy gut.

The gut microbiota has a circadian rhythm like we do, said Azcárate-Peril. Our gut microbiota will fluctuate in terms of composition and abundance based on our rhythm of when we eat and sleep. If that circadian rhythm is disrupted, we are going to have issues. We dont want to interrupt that cycle.

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Lactobacillus Plantarum & Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

Lactobacillus Plantarum is one of the many good bacteria thats naturally present in your intestines. Its also the most common probiotic found in yogurt.

This bacterium is known for its ability to heal the intestinal barrier. The intestinal mucosal barrier is something that prevents microbes, even the good ones, from free-flowing around your body. Because, even though theyre good for you when inside the gut, microbes can trigger adverse effects if they get out.

Sometimes, this barrier gets damaged because of constant bacterial attacks. And when this happens, Lactobacillus Plantarum heals the intestinal barrier, keeping you safe.

Similarly, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus is also a good bacterium that you can find, especially in dairy products. Its known to improve allergies, cure gastrointestinal dysfunction, and boost immunity.

These two probiotics are some of the most well-studied microorganisms. And so far, weve found that L. Plantarum and L. Rhamnosus are highly susceptible to EMFs detrimental effects.

In 2016, two Indian researchers performed a study to understand the effects of EMF on these lactobacillus species. They exposed these bacteria to radiofrequency EMF operating on 6.41 GHz, 7.5 GHz, and 7.62 GHz frequencies. After the exposure, researchers found a significant decrease in their population. And the intensity of this effect increased as they upped the radiations frequency.

How To Eat For Gut Health

The microbes in your large intestine are highly responsive to your diet.In fact, research has found that what you eat can change your gut microbiome withina week .

A healthy diet should consist of a balance of vegetables, fruit,whole grains, legumes, low fat dairy, good fats and lean meat, fish andchicken.

However, there are some food that help promote gut health and somethat should be avoided.

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Switch To An Ethernet Connection

I think we all agree on the notion that the modern world is incomplete without the internet. And what better way to get high-speed internet in your home than WiFi?

But you also have to realize that while WiFi is a highly convenient medium for internet connectivity, it also exposes you to its massive EMF emissions.

So, the best way of reducing EMF from your WiFi without compromising on network speed and quality is to switch to a wired connection.

I have a that explains the benefits of switching to a wired connection in-depth. It also has a detailed guide on how you can perform this switch yourself at home.

You Have Constant Heartburn After Eating Certain Foods

“Your stomach and esophagus are part of your digestive tract, and you may be creating too much of an acidic environment,” says Gorski.

How to improve it: “Maybe you are eating too fast, we all do! Take your time between bites. Chew your food. Put your fork down between bites,” says Gorski. “Some foods that can specifically trigger acid reflux are coffee, chocolate, alcohol, greasy foods, highly processed sugary foodsall the fun things. But you need to ask yourself, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?’ And in this case, the juice is a miserable pain in your chest after eating that makes doing anything unbearable.”

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You Have Skin Problems

Even the condition of our skin could be influenced by our gut microbiome. Research published in the International Journal of Womens Dermatology and Frontiers in Microbiology, among other journals, points to a connection between probiotics and skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. Skin problems such as psoriasis or rosacea have been shown to be related to changes in the relative activity and levels of three different bacterial species, Dr. Angle says. Progress in the possible treatment of these conditions has been made by suppressing bacterial overgrowth of one of the species involved.

Manage Your Stress Levels

Its well established in the scientific literature that the bacteria in our gut affect our brain function, stress levels, and behaviour. What some people dont know is that the highway between the gut and the brain also have many open lanes in the other direction from the brain to the gut.

Animal studies have shown that chronic psychological stress can disrupt the balance of the microbiota, triggering unfavorable shifts in bacterial composition and diversity . Its little doubt in my mind that these effects extend to humans as well; a belief that is supported by human studies showing that psychological stress can affect gut motility, epithelial barrier function, and inflammatory states .

Completely avoiding chronic stress is very difficult, if not impossible. That said, there are a lot of things we can do to reduce our stress levels, such as managing our time better, reducing our use of the internet, and spending more time in nature.

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Food Allergies Or Sensitivities

If you suffer from food intolerances such as gluten or dairy, this is almost always a result of leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut syndrome is when your gut barrier is compromised, which is not ideal, as your gut barrier is your gatekeeper that decides what gets in and what stays out of your digestive system.

When you think about it, our gut is a system that operates entirely on its own. It is a sealed passageway from our mouth to our bottom. Technically, the scope with which it interacts with other organs in our body is somewhat limited.

Anything that goes in the mouth and isnt digested will pass right out the other end. This is, in fact, one of the most important functions of the gut: to prevent foreign substances from entering the body.

When the intestinal barrier becomes permeable i.e. leaky gut syndrome, large protein molecules escape into the bloodstream. Since these proteins dont belong outside of the gut, the body mounts an immune response and attacks them. This immune response shows up as food intolerances and are often related to foods we eat the most of, because theyre showing up and being tagged as invaders more often within our body.;

Common food intolerances include gluten and dairy and are a great place to start when testing avoiding foods to improve your unhealthy gut symptoms.

Research On The Link Between Emf Exposure & E Coli Growth

In 2017, a group of Iranian researchers confirmed EMFs growth effect on E. coli by exposing it to EMF from cell phones and WiFi routers. This study also contained Listeria monocytogenes, which is a potential pathogen. Their experiment found that these two bacteria showed a significantly faster growth rate after their EMF exposure than control.

And whats worse is that E. coli became more resistant to antibiotics after 6 hours of EMF exposure. If you want to learn more about the link between EMF exposure and bacterias antibiotic resistance, I have a that discusses it in-depth.

So, you see how important it is to have a proper balance in your microbiome?

The EMF in our surroundings heavily disturbs this balance, leading to adverse health problems. Lets look at some more examples.

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Pathogen Control Index And Pathobiome:

Next, the report lets you know your vulnerability to pathogenic overgrowth, and moreover, what pathogens are more likely to become problematic.BiomeFx calls this your Pathogen Control Index and Pathobiome.Pathogen Control Index:

View Full Report PDF

The pathogen control index identifies how well your microbiome is suited to control a number of known pathogens. The higher the index, the better able your microbiome is at generally controlling pathogens. This is because microbes in your gut naturally police themselves by producing natural antibacterial compounds. The better able your organisms are to stand their ground against competing organisms – the better your gut is going to be at fending off future pathogenic threats.

If some of your pathogens are resistant to this competition – they’re more likely to become future problems.The Pathobiome is not whether you have pathogens or not, it’s how well your system is at controlling them.It then gets more into the nitty-gritty of your Pathobiome – an analysis of which specific organisms are more likely to become problematic or overgrown IF overgrowth was to be present. More importantly, it gives you a template for choosing natural strategies to keep these guys at bay to supplement a medical plan or mitigate the risk of them becoming medical issues in the first place.

Improve Your Gut Microbiome Today For The 4rs

There are a number of factors that contribute to the health of your gut microbiome, including your environment, the amount of exercise and sleep you get, and of course, stress. But the number one factor that determines what microbes live in your gut is your diet.

In Functional Medicine, there is a very successful protocol called the 4Rs, which stands for Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, and Repair. There are many resources for learning more about the 4 Rs. I like Raphael Kellman, M.D.s book, The Microbiome Diet: The Scientifically Proven Way to Restore Your Gut Health and Achieve Permanent Weight Loss.

The beautiful thing about the 4Rs protocol is that it doesnt have to be followed in order. Once you remove the processed foods and toxins from your diet, you can start doing all of the remaining 3 steps together. Unless you suffer from a serious digestive disorder or other condition, you can follow the 4Rs on your own. Or, find a practitioner who can tailor the protocol to your specific needs.

Here are my suggestions for following the 4Rs and improving your gut microbiome starting today:

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Spend More Time In Nature

Humans evolved to live in nature, not in closed buildings. Today, most people spend more than 90% of their time inside buildings and cars. This is in stark contrast to our primal ancestors, who spent all of their time outside.

Weve replaced trees, singing birds, and rivers with concrete pavements, huge office buildings, and vehicles. This is problematic for a number of reasons, one of which being that weve lost contact with some microorganisms that co-evolved with humans for millions of years .

Heres what Dr. Graham Rook, a leading researcher in the microbiome field, had to say about the importance of adequate exposure to microorganisms found in the natural environment:

Result: A Full Gut Health Profile

After shipping your gut microbiome test back to us, allow for some processing time. Your small stool sample is all it takes to yield a complete analysis of the microorganisms in your gut. You can take this test once or on a regular basis as your gut condition changes with your dietary adjustments. Updating your information regularly helps you to:

• Make informed decisions to change your lifestyle and improve your health
• Reduce the population of unhealthy microbes in your microbiome
• Balance the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in your diet
• Implement foods that are compatible with your metabolism and eliminate incompatible foods
• Feel more energetic, focused, and happy
• Maintain a healthy weight

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Healthy Microbiome Tip #7: Dont Overly Sterilize Your Surroundings

Products like hand sanitizers, antibacterial soaps, scrubs, sprays, and household cleaning supplies are a whopping $60 billion-dollar industry in the U.S. And while this attention to cleanliness is very much rooted in modern medical and scientific breakthroughs, its not hard to see the pendulum swing too far.Over-sanitizing your house can actually have an opposite effect killing weak varieties of bad or harmless bacteria while strengthening the most series strains. This, in turn, dulls your immune systems response to foreign pathogens. This is especially common with kids and the elderly, and is one reason why you may want to rethink a religious use of hand sanitizer before snacktime. ;;;;;

Healthy Microbiome Tip #6: Embrace Fiber

Your microbiomes bacteria love them some fiber. Its a favorite nutrient, and they feed on it to keep waste flowing smoothly out your body.

Adults are advised to eat between 2535 grams of fiber a day, with the easiest doses coming in complex carbs, legumes, and green vegetables. Sprinkle some beans on your next salad, add lentils to a soup, snack on popcorn, and include cruciferous veggies as sides to at least one meal a day. Your gut will thank you later. ;;;;;

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Exercise & Proper Nutrition

Even though our bodies havent evolved to defend against human-made EMF naturally, were resilient to its effects to some degree. Our in-built healing system is extremely good at repairing the damages that prolonged EMF exposure causes. It only becomes a problem when we expose ourselves to massive EMF for so long that it overwhelms our healing system.

Studies have found that when you exercise regularly and consume proper nutrition, your resistance to EMF-induced health problems increases significantly.

Building biologist and EMF expert Cathy Cooke wrote this amazing article explaining what nutrients you should add to your diet to increase your resilience to EMF. So, give it a read.

Move Your Body Regularly

Getting regular exercise is also an important step in getting your gut into a balanced state. According to one research review on the effects of exercise on the gut microbiome, aerobic exercise can increase the amount of bacteria in your digestive tract and contribute to overall bacterial diversity.

While any movement can help, it appears that the more physically fit you are, the more diverse your microbiome is. If youre sedentary, start small by exercising a couple days a week, then work your way up to including exercise as part of your regular, everyday routine.

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