Gut Bacteria and 'Flora'

1/28/2021

Your gastrointestinal (GI) system is as essential to your overall health as having good soil is to growing a thriving garden. In fact, the thousands of microscopic organisms living in your gut are called just that — “flora,” another word for plants. Actually bacteria, these microorganisms, live inside our intestines, and our bodies benefit from them. According to the National Institutes of Health, gut microbes take up 1 to 3 percent of the body’s mass – often heavier than an average three-pound brain.

Where does our inner “garden” come from?
Partly from our mothers — babies are given bacteria from their mothers through the placenta and during childbirth. Gut flora also comes from what we eat — that’s why we’re encouraged to consume a diverse diet rich with unprocessed foods.

How does our GI garden help us?
One way is by building our immune system. When our gut bacteria interact with our immune systems, our immune cells “learn” to control inflammation and moderate their response to allergens. When these interactions go wrong, autoimmune conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, can result. Gut bacteria also play a role in our mental well-being. Research has revealed a connection between gut bacteria and mental health. Scientists describe a “gut/brain axis,” meaning our intestinal tract and central nervous system can communicate with each other and influence each other’s behavior. Anxiety, depression and irritable bowel disorder may all be examples of “crosstalk” between the brain and intestinal bacteria.

Does this mean we need to get rid of our GI flora?
By no means. A healthy gut contributes to a healthy mind and body; by contrast, destroying intestinal bacteria may lead to serious problems. For instance, people who have had strong courses of antibiotics as infants may be at higher risk for obesity, asthma and other conditions. By contrast, a healthy, diversified microbiome is related to a well-regulated immune system and even a positive mental state.

So, cultivate your “gut garden” and help it grow.

To keep your gastrointestinal microbiome diverse and healthy, eat plenty of prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are foods that encourage the growth of bacteria; probiotics contain healthy, active bacteria in them.

Prebiotics, typically fibers, include:

• apples, especially the skin
• artichokes
• asparagus
• bananas
• garlic and onions
• leeks
• soy beans
• whole wheat

Probiotics, typically fermented foods, include:

• dairy products with live cultures, such as yogurt and aged cheese
• kimchi
• miso
• sauerkraut
• tempeh

To find a family physician or gastroenterologist visit NWMedicalGroup.com.

This information is provided by your friends at Northwest Health – Starke. Learn more about us at NWHealthIN.com.

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