Have you ever had a gut feeling?
Science is showing us that there is probably more to that thought than we ever imagined.
One of the squishier things about our bodies is that while we are made up of cells, tissues, bones, organs and such, the number of bacteria in and on our bodies outnumber our human cells by about a 10 to 1 ratio.
We are so wrapped up cleanliness and killing the germs in our environment, it is frightening to learn that we are this living and breathing petri dish walking around.
Now you may have heard about “good” and “bad” bacteria in the media, and while the labels will have a little significance in some parts of the conversation, we pretty much live in a bacterial soup – and we love it!
Bacteria, especially those in our digestive system, are responsible for more than just digesting our food. This gut flora actually plays a large role in our immune system, heart disease, obesity, and even our brain function! (The brain functions currently being studied include Parkinson’s disease, Autism and Depression.)
Everything is connected.
So bacteria behave in our bodies much like people on a crowded city street. So long as everyone follows the rules of behavior, they all get along and our physiology works. But let one group, let’s call them “bad” bacteria, start to reproduce and a speed faster than the posted speed limit, and function starts to become less coordinated. Disease and organ dysfunction eventually sets in.
Fixing the Imbalance
Modern medicine has been using a nifty tool called antibiotics for several generations now. While effective at controlling the population of “bad” bacteria, they also wipe out the “good” guys too. This has been an acceptable treatment when the disease was advanced or the individual’s immune system was highly compromised but there are other alternatives for situations that are not so advanced.
Once again we look to diet and exercise to help restore the balance to an imbalanced system – and some of the solutions should be quite agreeable to many.
The theory on diet is that we want to restore balance to the body. If we had “bad” bacteria getting out of hand to cause the problems, adding back “good” bacteria helps put things back where things work better. (There really is no such thing as good or bad bacteria. We need them all but in proper proportions for Healthy functioning.)
Eating fermented foods, like yogurt, pickles, and sauerkraut, helps to reintroduce some of the bacteria into our digestive systems. Even certain cheeses are on the list! Raw milk, or one with added acidophilus, can also help.
Along with the dietary improvements, some moderate exercise aids in adding oxygen to the system, which improves how the tissues function.
That’s it!
Healthy diet and lifestyle go a long way to improving how our bodies function. Just be patient with the effects of the lifestyle changes and your compliance with them. This type of process takes time. It’s sort like steering an ocean liner. With persistence, it eventually get to where you are intending.
Just keep up the good work!
“The road to health is paved with good intestines!”
― Sherry A. Rogers
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