This week we’re digging further into gut health – why an imbalance should be unwanted (hint, hint – inflammation). Last week we covered what gut health is. So if you missed that post, I recommend you read that post before this one.

If it has been some time since you read the first post in this gut health series, here’s a quick summary of what we’ve covered so far…

• Gut health is the health of the trillions of microbes (bacteria) that live in your stomach down to your rectum (butt)
• The balance of these microbes (which are good bacteria) is key to the health of our immune systems
• When the gut microbes are imbalanced, it can lead to obesity, immune problems, autism, allergies, asthma, and mood and behavior problems

Now that we know having an imbalance of our gut bacteria causes problems, let’s talk about the why.

Balance, Balance, Balance

Gut health is the cutting edge of research right now.

Did you know that there are at least 10,000 different kinds of microbes that live in your gut?

The bacteria in your gut are so diverse. And that’s great because, as we talked about last week, the bacteria are intricately connected to your immune system. And possibly more than that even.

When we have changes in the different types of bacteria in our gut, we cause changes to the way our body functions.

One particular shift that is causing problems in the West is the increase of inflammatory bacteria and decrease of anti-inflammatory ones.

This imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory bacteria in the gut is a major problem because the inflammatory bacteria are really good at their job – making inflammation.

Inflammation – Good Guy or Bad Guy?

Inflammation happens when your immune system is trying to protect you by removing something harmful so that you can heal. For example, when you twist your ankle, your ankle swells so that the area is protected from foreign invaders while blood is pushed there to heal the site. The same happens when you cut yourself or have an infection.

Inflammation is, typically, a good thing.

But, inflammation has become a problem today in the West.

If you look at many of the chronic diseases we have today (obesity, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, autoimmune problems), they all have something in common…

Inflammation.

Studies are beginning to show that dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders may also be a product of inflammation.

It seems that inflammation, which normally is a good thing, has become rampant in response to the Western lifestyle.

And what’s a major cause of this widespread inflammation?

Those darn inflammatory bacteria.

The tricky thing is that the inflammatory bacteria are needed for many good reasons.

When they are in good balance with the anti-inflammatory bacteria, the inflammatory bacteria stay in line. When they aren’t in good balance, inflammation can get out of hand.

So, what causes these inflammatory bacteria to overcome their anti-inflammatory friends?

Research is still being done in this area to find out what exactly is causing this imbalance. But, my guess is, like everything that has to do with the body, it’s complicated.

There are studies that have shown differences in our gut microbes. I will talk about a few here and talk about a few others plus one of the main influencers in our gut health next week. (So you have to come back.)

Health Begins at Your Roots

One of the first things that determine your gut health is the gut health of your parents at conception. The bacteria in your parents’ gut gave you the starting point for the bacteria in your gut.

From there what your mom ate and drank during pregnancy affected the types and amounts of different bacteria in your gut. Medications, drug use, and alcohol also affect which bacteria are present in the gut.

Whether you are born vaginally or via C-section is the next known factor to your gut health.

When babies are born vaginally, they get bacteria from their mom on their way out. So babies born via C-section miss out on those bacteria.

Once you are born, whether you are breastfed or formula-fed also affects your gut bacteria.

There are several studies now showing that babies of moms that had a high-fat diet during pregnancy, born via C-section, or formula-fed are all more likely to have immune problems, allergies, asthma, and to be obese compared to babies of moms that have a well-balanced diet, born vaginally, or breastfed, respectively.

 

Moral of the story: your choices affect your kids.

From pre-conception to what you’re feeding your kid once they’re off breastmilk or formula to the eating habits you teach them, you are affecting their gut health. And bad gut health is linked to immune problems, obesity, food intolerances, allergies, and several more health problems that we’re just now becoming aware of.

So, make your decisions wisely because you aren’t just affecting yourself.

Drugs with Superpowers?

One of the biggest disruptors to your gut health is antibiotics.

You have probably taken an antibiotic if you have had an infection. Pink eye, ear infection, UTI, traveler’s diarrhea, strep throat, parasite (like Giardia), H. pylori or C. diff infection, respiratory infections (like bronchitis and some types of pneumonia), and STDs are all treated with antibiotics. Also, Crohn’s disease and diverticulitis can be treated with antibiotics as well.

At birth, doctors in the U.S. give newborns erythromycin, a common antibiotic, as a standard of care to prevent pink eye. So, it’s very likely that if you live in America, you have received at least one antibiotic.

Antibiotics are great for getting rid of infections. While antibiotics are destroying the “bad” bacteria, yeast, or fungi, though, there is collateral damage.

Have you ever seen a superhero movie and wondered about the innocent people in the buildings or on the streets where the bad guy gets thrown? When you take an antibiotic, the bacteria that you need for good health are like those innocent people… Wrong place at the wrong time.

And when those “innocent bystanders” are destroyed, your gut bacteria become imbalanced (AKA dysbiosis). Dysbiosis leads to those problems we mentioned above (immune problems, obesity, etc.).

>> So, every time you have an infection, you need to consider the cost (dysbiosis potentially leading to health problems down the line) and the benefits of taking antibiotics. <<

Some infections are absolutely worth the cost of taking antibiotics and you should take them. But, I would suggest you talk to your doctor about your options and be honest about your concerns.

MAJOR SIDENOTE!!!

It’s so important to work with your doctor (and any healthcare professional) in choosing what’s best for you or your child. Don’t just accept everything they tell you.

Ask questions. Vocalize concerns you have.

Your health is yours, not your doctor’s, so be involved in what’s being put in or done to your body (and your kid’s).

As a dietitian, I recommend my clients to tell me what they’re willing to do and what they aren’t willing to do. At the end of the day, you have to live with your choices, not me or your doctor. So, only you know what you’ll be able to handle.

Sorry for that tangent, but I think it was essential to touch on.

 

And on that important note, I’ll leave the rest of the gut health influencers for next week.

Let’s say that next week, we’ll dig a little deeper into something called the gut-brain axis. Ever used the phrase, ‘I got a gut feeling’? Well, there’s a reason why…

 

 

If you have a few minutes to spare, I would love to read your comments below! Have you taken antibiotics and noticed changes in your health afterward? Or maybe you didn’t have any problems and think this is just fluff. Either way, let me know below!