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The intricate relationship between gut health and the immune system is increasingly being seen as a key factor in protecting us from viral infections.

As winter approaches, so does the season of sniffles and sneezes. And this is when we take immune supporting supplements to protect us against colds and flu.
But did you know that your gut health might hold the key to staying healthy during these chilly months?
The connection between gut health and immunity is increasingly recognised as vital for defending against viral infections.

In this blog post, we’ll look into the fascinating world of gut microbiota and how nurturing your gut can support your immune system, playing a crucial role in shielding you from winter viruses

Understanding Gut Microbiota:

microbiome

At the core of the gut-immunity connection lies the diverse community of microorganisms that live in our digestive system – your gut microbiota.

These tiny inhabitants, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, contribute significantly to your overall well-being. They aid in digestion, produce essental vitamins and also interact closely with your immune system to maintain a delicate balance of health.

The Gut-Immune Axis:

Imagine your gut as a bustling city, with immune cells stationed at every corner, ready to protect against invaders. This dynamic interplay between immune cells and gut microbes forms the gut-immune axis, essential for optimal immune function.

How Gut Health Influences Immunity:

So, just how exactly does gut health influence immunity?

It boils down to the diversity and composition of your gut microbiota. A rich and varied microbial community promotes a robust immune response, while disturbances in this balance can weaken immunity. Here’s how it works:

  1. Regulating Inflammation: The gut microbiota helps keep inflammation in check, preventing it from getting out of control and causing harm to the body.
  2. Training Immune Cells: Certain gut microbes educate immune cells, enabling them to distinguish between harmful and harmless substances.
    This process, known as immune education, is important for developing a good immune response to pathogens.
  3. Producing Antimicrobial Substances: Some gut microbes even produce antimicrobial substances that can directly target and eliminate harmful pathogens, including viruses.
    By improving the population of these beneficial microbes, we help our body’s natural defence mechanisms.
  4. Supporting Barrier Function: The gut lining serves as a barrier, preventing harmful substances, including viruses, from entering the bloodstream. A healthy gut microbiota helps maintain the effectiveness of this barrier, reducing the risk of viral infections.

The Role of Diet and Lifestyle:

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiota requires conscious effort and attention to lifestyle factors, especially diet.
A diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods nourishes beneficial gut microbes, promoting diversity and resilience.
On the other hand, diets high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can disrupt the gut microbiota, compromising immune function.

In addition to diet, other lifestyle factors, such as stress, sleep, and exercise, also influence gut health and immunity.
Chronic stress, poor sleep quality, and sedentary behaviour have been linked to dysbiosis (imbalance in gut microbiota) and impaired immune function.
This means that paying attention to stress management, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity can contribute to a healthier gut and a stronger immune system.

Practical Tips for Supporting Gut Health:

Now that we understand the importance of gut health in bolstering immunity, we’ll explore some practical tips for nurturing our gut microbiota and magnifying our defences against winter viruses:

  1. Eat a diverse range of foods: Incorporate a variety of plant-based foods into your diet to feed different types of gut microbes.
  2. Include fermented foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha are excellent sources of probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that support gut health.
  3. Include fibre: Aim to consume plenty of fibre-rich foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, which serve as fuel for beneficial gut bacteria.
  4. Stay hydrated: Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining optimal digestive function and supporting the growth of beneficial gut microbes.
  5. Manage stress: Adopt stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or spending time in nature to support a healthy gut-brain connection.
  6. Get quality sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support immune function and gut health.

Conclusion:

As winter approaches and viruses lurk around every corner, remember that a healthy gut is an important defence against seasonal illnesses.
By nurturing your gut microbiota through a balanced diet, lifestyle modifications, and targeted supplementation if necessary, you can bolster your immune system and arm yourself against winter viruses.
So, embrace the gut-immunity connection and let your gut be your guide to a healthier, more resilient you.

Stay well

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To read more about how healthy habits help the immune system, click here

The gut microbiota, which describes the microorganisms living and growing inside your digestive tract is a hot topic right now! Exciting new research shows the benefits of probiotics and how these microbes have a profound impact on the many aspects of your health and wellbeing.

Taking probiotics (specific strains of beneficial bacteria) can positively influence these microorganisms and lead to improvements, not only in your digestive and immune health but the health of your whole body.

Is Your Gut Out of Balance?

stomach painAn imbalance in the gut microbiota is linked to numerous health conditions, both within the gut and throughout the body. You may have experienced symptoms such as bloating, wind, abdominal pain, and discomfort; signs of poor immunity (e.g. frequent colds and flu); or been plagued by allergies or skin conditions such as eczema. These may arise due to disturbances to the intricate balance of intestinal bacteria.

Many common lifestyle factors including alcohol consumption, medications (e.g. antibiotics), processed foods, and stress can disrupt this delicate balance and lead to an increase in undesirable bacteria or deficiencies in beneficial bacteria.

This imbalance has been associated with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), asthma, and autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). In these cases, when taken in the right dosage, the benefits of probiotics are again evident when they help to restore the correct balance of bacteria and ultimately reinstate health.

It is now more important than ever to support your gastrointestinal microbiota!

How Do Probiotics Work?

stomach with bad bacteria and good bacteria

Specific probiotic strains help to rebuild the disrupted microbiota and act like policemen within the gut, restoring peace amongst the ‘citizens’ of the microbiota.

Probiotics have a regulating effect on both disease-promoting and beneficial bacteria; undesirable bacteria are kept at minimal levels, meanwhile promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.

This exciting new news is in contrast to earlier thoughts that probiotics repopulated the gut by directly replacing any bad bugs living there.

Instead, probiotics help to restore the numbers and types of beneficial bacteria unique to you; rebuilding a healthy and diverse community of beneficial microbiota, and enabling them to function at their best, so you too can feel your best!

The Correct Strains at the Right Dose

There can be significant variation between probiotic strains.

Different strains not only have different actions in your body but also deliver different health benefits. Additionally, different doses of the same strain can have varying effects on the body.

Naturopaths at Your Wellness Centre can tailor your treatment by selecting specific probiotic strains at the right dose to address your individual health concerns.

These may include:

Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (BB-12®) – This super strain assists in rebuilding the gut microbiota and helps to rebalance bacteria after a course of antibiotics.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) – Commonly referred to as LGG®, this probiotic strain helps to regulate immune function, and in doing so may be useful for the treatment of autoimmune conditions, allergies, and eczema.

Probiotic Protection

Appropriate probiotic storage is of utmost importance to ensure the bacteria remain alive, strong, and healthy – essentially in a healthy state to restore your healthy state.

In nearly all instances, probiotics must be stored at stable temperatures within the fridge to keep them alive and active.

The only exception is when they are protected by PROTECTAIR™ technology as this has been shown to minimize moisture levels (moisture ‘activates’ probiotics, which you don’t want to happen until they are in your body!).

This technology has been developed to allow certain probiotic strains to remain out of the fridge for a set period of time, while still remaining stable and effective, so you get results.

Practitioner Recommended Probiotics Are Best

It is essential to source your probiotics based on the recommendation of a qualified Natural Health Practitioner.

This ensures that the formula contains the correct strains at the right dosage and combination to address your specific health needs.

Practitioners at Your Wellness Centre will prescribe probiotics that provide high strength, therapeutic doses of bacteria, beneficial for managing your health.

To restore peace and balance amongst the ‘citizens’ of your marvelous microbiota, ring Your Wellness Centre on 9879 9596 or contact us.

Take the step toward a healthier you!

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Your Wellness Centre Naturopathy Melbourne