MyPsomagen

  WHAT IS GUT HEALTH? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? Approximately 100 trillion bacteria, both good and bad, reside in your intestines and stomach. Collectively, this community is referred to as the microbiome, or less formally, the gut. The bacteria in your gut consists of roughly 1,000 species and 5,000 different strains. The microbiome plays a key part in the digestive system, but this role is only the foundation of what this ecosystem of microbes in our bodies can do. Researchers have found connections from the good and bad gut bacteria to your body's functions that go far beyond digestion, like behavior or mood. Why Does My Gut Bacteria Matter? Although science has not indicated which bacterial strains carry the most importance to your overall health, your microbiome as a whole plays a vital role in: Metabolizing nutrients from supplements and foods Vitamin Production Defense against intestinal infections Prevention of chronic illness Treating diseases Weight management Immune functi

How Your Diet Impacts Your Gut Health What you eat plays a huge role in indicating what kind of microbes live in your gut and how diverse your gut microbiome could be. Because of this, your food preferences, the lifestyle choices you make, and other external factors like your genetics create a collection of bacteria in your gut microbiome that is truly unique to you!  Why is it important to have a diversity of microbes in your gut? According to the Havard School of Public Health , "your gut is a major site of immune activity and the production of antimicrobial proteins." Therefore, your diet is a major contributor to determine what kind of microbes live there. Researchers have found that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes supports the growth and maintenance of beneficial bacteria in our gut. These beneficial bacteria can also play key roles in how our bodies function like stimulate immune cell activity, reduce inflammation, and impact our overall moo

  Starting off the new year can be exciting or intimidating if you decide that your new year's resolution is to lose weight or improve your overall health. A great step toward your weight loss goals is to look into your gut health. By checking your gut microbiome, you have the opportunity to analyze the bacteria in your gut that may cause certain symptoms such as; gas, constipation, continence, or even inflammation. You will be surprised to find that not only is your gut microbiome impacted by your diet, but your daily lifestyle choices as well. WHAT DEFINES A HEALTHY GUT? How do you know if your gut microbiome is healthy? It all comes down to the diversity of your gut bacteria. Studies have shown that generally healthy people have a greater diversity of microorganisms in their gut than those who aren’t as healthy. However, further research is needed to determine whether low bacterial diversity increases the risk of disease, or if a disease may decrease bacterial diversity. Microbi