DIET

What we eat has a direct impact on the microbiota profile, on one hand, a diet full of processed food and high in added sugars has a detrimental effect on gut profile.  Raises in bad bacteria, like Bacteroids [1], is known to be present in these type of diets.

On the other hand, a diet high in cereals without fat like rice, quinoa, and other grains promote good bacteria. Fruits and vegetables complement the cereals in our diet giving us a complete dietary fiber that nourishes the digestive system.

Malnutrition (either starvation or overeating) can seriously alter the composition of the gut profile, so adding an excellent source of prebiotic in populations with malnutrition has profound effects as it promotes balance, lowering bad bacteria on an overeating state and raising good bacteria in the starvation state.

DISEASE

Different infectious diseases like escherichia coli and salmonella can cause damage to the gut in the long term, also, chronic illnesses like autoimmune disease or endocrine disease can have serious negative effects on gut health. Surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiotherapy [2]take also a toll on gut health.

OTHER FACTORS

Age, alcoholism, pollution, exposure to toxic substances, seasonal factors, exposure to radiation and extreme climates can alter good bacteria [3]. it differs from person to person, because everyone one of us carries a unique mixture of microbiota profile, all the factors listed above can change our microbiota in very different ways, predisposing to different health problems. Therefore, it is a completely unpredictable process in which traditional medicine often fails by ignoring gut health abnormalities.

It is important to highlight that there is evidence [4]  of damaged guts as an inherited trait, where a newborn child´s microbiota is linked to the mother´s microbiota profile.

Most of the factors described in this two-part post are easily missed by modern health care providers and doctors, by ignoring the beneficial effects of a good microbiota profile.  When the gut loses its ability to fulfill all the functions that it is meant to regulate, the main ones affected are absorption and/or metabolism of food and diminished immune system, leaving the body susceptible to malnourishment, viruses and pathogenic bacteria.

So what can we do to strengthen and promote the growth of a healthy microbiota?  In previous posts, we have talked about Yacon and its high content of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) makes it the best source of natural prebiotics and promoter of good bacteria out there as it nourishes the gut like no other prebiotic.

In our QUINOA WITH YACON breakfast cereal, you will find an easy and delicious way to nourish your microbiota with the powerful prebiotics from FOS.

A daily serving of Wholefort’s QUINOA WITH YACON will boost your diet, allowing you to promote beneficial bacteria, help after and/or endure gut abnormalities like the ones discussed.

REFERENCES - Written by Antonio Reyes RDN

1. Eaton KK. Sugars in food intolerance and abnormal gut fermentation. J Nutr Med 1992.

2. Petrovskaja VG, Marko OP. Human microflora in norm and pathology. 1976.

3. Anthony H, Birtwistle S, Eaton K, Maberly J. Environmental Medicine in Clinical Practice. BSAENM Publications, 1997.

4. Kilshaw PJ and Cant AJ (1984). The passage of maternal dietary protein into human breast milk.