What Can Happen with an Imbalanced Gut? 

When we don’t have enough good bacteria in our microbiome, too much bad bacteria can increase, causing an unhealthy condition.

These unhealthy issues throughout our body can be damaging and ongoing, which include:

* Food intolerances or sensitivities, reduced ability to digest food, and so-called ‘leaky gut’ (intestinal hyper-permeability)

* Overgrowth of damaging organisms, bad bacteria, and yeasts, often referred to as candida overgrowth

* Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, including some bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, some allergies, asthma, and diabetes

* There are some indications that it may contribute to obesity in some people

Why does the gut get out of balance?

The balance between good and bad bacteria depends on a variety of factors including:

* The initial start we had in the development of our gut microbiome: our mother’s microbiome, how we were born (normal delivery or C-section), and our home environment

* Environmental factors

* Diet

* Antibiotic use––these destroy the good bacteria along with the bad

* Poor health

* Age

What can improve gut Microbiome?

- diverse range of foods- legumes, beans, fruit, fiber

- Fermented foods- yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir

- Prebiotic foods- type of fiber stimulating growth of bacteria: artichokes, bananas, asparagus, oats, apples

- Limit artificial sweeteners which can stimulate growth of unhealthy bacteria

- Breastfeed for at least 6 months because it helps with development of the gut Microbiome 

- Eat whole grains with lots of fiber

- Eat more plant-based diet

- Eat more foods with polyphenols like green tea, dark chocolate, olive oil 

- Take a probiotic supplement to restore gut if need be 

- Take antibiotics only when necessary, as they can kill bad and good bacteria in the gut

Reflect

We should be eating living foods from God, not dead man-made processed foods. Living foods are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and herbs that direct our bodies on how to heal. Processed foods cannot. They keep our bodies starved for the nutrients and vitamins it needs. 

Processed foods are unrecognizable to the body, and when too many are ingested over time, they bring chaos and confusion, then sickness and disease. God does not have the characteristics of chaos or confusion. He is orderly, structured, efficient, wise, and peaceful. 

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27541692/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426293/

https://bebrainfit.com/psychobiotics-gut-brain/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-care-for-your-skin-microbiome-during-covid-19?mbg_mcid=777:5edeec145e720f5d5b0e4158:ot:5c379d52dc07327797fbad1a:1&mbg_hash=16c96bb21cbdcf1dbfc69a2eb3ce87a5&utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_v2_20200609