Hippocrates was once quoted for saying “all disease begins in the gut.” Time is proving Hippocrates to be a pretty smart guy, and science is even now linking poor gut health with a myriad of health problems.
From eczema to poor immune health, it seems that our gut health influences much more than we previously realized. If all disease beings in the health, it is logical to realize that perhaps optimal health begins here as well.
Stinking Gut?
Ever had a “gut” feeling? There may be more to it than your realize. It is now estimated that over 3/4 of our immune system resides in our intestinal tract, with over 500 species of bacteria present.
Overall, there are ten times the number of bacteria in the body as actual human cells, and this colonization of bacteria (good or bad) can weigh up to three pounds. With such a large concentration of bacteria in our bodies, it is logical that we depend rather heavily on them for health.
Traditional diets around the world have typically included raw and fermented foods teeming with bacteria, including many beneficial strains. From yogurt, to kefir, to sauerkraut, to fermented fish, cultures around the world are not afraid of a little bacteria.
In our modern society, we’ve effectively managed to pasteurize, irradiate, and process out any naturally occurring beneficial bacteria while at the same time feeding harmful bacteria with a feast of processed starches and sugars.
On top of that, we sanitize our children from the moment they are born, afraid to ever let them encounter bacteria, good or bad, which are necessary for immune development. Besides the fact that research has found that antibacterial soap is no more beneficial than regular soap and water and might be harmful, raising our kids with Lysol in hand may not even let their digestive systems develop properly.
It has now been found that babies are born with a completely sterile digestive system, since in utero, they don’t need gut bacteria for the breakdown of food as all nourishment comes from mom. During the rather messy birth process, the baby’s digestive system begins to colonize bacteria based on the mother’s existing bacteria (good or bad!).
The baby’s bacteria further develops during breastfeeding thanks to certain strains of immune boosting beneficial bacteria found only in breastmilk. Since the baby depends on the birth process and on breastmilk for this balance of bacteria, it makes sense that babies born naturally and then breastfed have lower rates of eczema, allergies, and illness.
Babies born by cesarean or who are formula fed are not doomed from the start, but it is good for parents to be aware of this need for probiotic bacteria and consider supplementation and natural sources.
After the infant stage, toddlers naturally supplement probiotics by putting everything, dirt included, into their mouths. If given the proper resources, these beneficial bacteria grow and flourish, boosting immunity and allowing proper breakdown of food.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the norm anymore. More often, the balance of good bacteria is altered by an abundance of starches/sugars/vegetable oils in the diet, or destroyed completely by antibiotic use or other pharmaceuticals. Lack of exposure to bacteria in environment and food further aggravate this problem.
In fact, in our Clorox cleaned world of processed foods, many of us might benefit from a good dose of healthy bacteria. The digestive tract as has almost as many nerve cells as the spinal cord, and research is increasingly linking digestive health to overall health.
Beneficial bacteria is necessary to properly digest food (especially starches) and to absorb nutrients. It plays a big role in overall immunity. With the rise of digestive problems like IBS, Crohn’s disease, Celiac Disease, colitis, allergies, etc., a good dose of beneficial bacteria certainly wouldn’t hurt.
The good news is that while outside sources are constantly working against our good bacteria these days, there are ways to boost good bacteria naturally, even for those of us not still nursing or fond of eating dirt.
An Ounce of Prevention…
Grandma said it and it still holds true. One of the best ways to keep beneficial bacteria from becoming depleted is to avoid the things that deplete it in the first place, including:
- antibiotic use (especially if it can be avoided or natural alternatives can be used)
- use of antibacterial soap
- overuse of harsh cleaning chemicals to sanitize environment
- consumption of processed and refined foods
- consumption of sugars or excess of starches
- any sources of stress on the body that can be avoided (lack of sleep, overexertion, etc.)
Building Up Good Bacteria in the Digestive System
Fortunately, even if you’ve depleted your beneficial bacteria by some of the methods above, there are ways to increase it and help balance the bacteria in your digestive system. Chances are, unless you already consume a lot of fermented foods, garden barefoot a lot and eat some dirt, your probiotic balance could use a boost.
Here are some tips for boosting your probiotic balance:
- Don’t Eat Sugars/Grains/Excess Starches/Vegetable Oils– These foods deplete beneficial bacteria very quickly and can consequently suppress immunity and lead to a variety of health problems. There is no need to eat these foods, especially in processed form, so for the sake of your guts… avoid them!
- Eat Lots of Real Foods- Eating foods like vegetables, proteins and fats will help support beneficial bacteria that feed on certain types of fiber in foods like veggies. They will also support the body in culturing additional good bacteria, as will…
- Consume Fermented Foods and Drinks– Foods like Sauerkraut, Kimichi, Fermented Salsa, Fermented Veggies, Natural Yogurt, Kefir, Naturally Aged Cheeses, etc. are natural sources of Probiotics and eating a variety of these will help get in all the beneficial strains of bacteria. Cultured drinks like kombucha and water or milk kefir also provide probiotics.
- Use natural soap and water instead of antibacterial– Antibacterial soap kills bacteria, good or bad, and some suggest that overuse of antibacterial soap may be contributing to the rise in resistant strains of bacteria like MRSA. Use a quality natural soap and warm water to clean hands.
- Start Gardening– Believe it or not, the benefits of dirt that ring true for kids are still beneficial to adults. If you aren’t fond of mud pies, take up gardening. It is a way to get your vitamin D and probiotics in while producing your own food… a win-win!
- Don’t Overuse Antibiotics– There are certainly cases when it is best to use antibiotics, but for mild illnesses that can be left to run their course or treated naturally, consider skipping the antibiotics, which will deplete all gut bacteria, including the beneficial strains. If you do need to take antibiotics, make sure to take a high quality probiotic at the same time and for a while afterward to help replenish bacteria. Also, colloidal silver, which is a great antibacterial for topical uses, may not be the best choice to be taken internally.
- Take A Probiotic Supplement– Many of us need more help in the probiotic department than simple dietary changes can provide. That being said, supplementing probiotics without a change in diet and lifestyle is just a waste of money! If you are already eating real foods including fermented foods/drinks and using other ways to replenish your bacteria, consider supplementing probiotics, at least for a while. This is also an important recommendation if you are currently using or recently have used antibiotics. Children with eczema, allergies, digestive disturbances or those who were formula fed can often benefit from probiotics as well.
- Try to GAPS/SCD diet– These diets are specifically focused on healing and rebuilding a digestive system that has been harmed over time. If you have specific or acute symptoms, one of these diets may be the fastest/best way to help your body recover.
What do you think? Do you get enough good bacteria? Ever realize your guts did so much work? Tell me below!
Hi, I’ve recently returned from America where I was prescribed azithromycin for a sore throat. Since then I have been having bouts of nausea, loose stool and loud noises. So you suppose this is a typical case of lack of good bacteria? Also I’ve been told that too greater dose of probiotic can be bad for the stomach, is that correct?
may i know do our body need bad bacteria? Some doctor advice say we need both and good and bad bacteria in our body ..which i do not understand why we need “bad bacteria”. Does “Extra Virgin Coconut oil” kills all bad bacteria in our body? What happend to our body without bad bacteria? Thank you very much !
All of us carry some bad bacteria. The important thing to remember is : our good, helpful bacteria normally keep them from causing us problems by out-competing them. It’s when we take antibiotics or other medications that the good ones are killed off or disturbed, thus giving the bad ones a chance to attach to the intestinal wall, and then give us problems.
I’m a mom of a 2-year-old who has very mild eczema. He also has a bit of a nut allergy (I say “a bit” because he tested negative for it, both blood and skin tests, and yet, whenever he is exposed to nuts, especially sesame seeds, he gets a rash on his cheeks). Our pediatrician has told us to just avoid nuts. My son’s diet is very healthy, but he eats some of the things on your list that doesn’t promote healthy gut bacteria. I want to incorporate some probiotic yogurts into his diet, and am starting to research what kinds/types/brands would work best for a toddler. And after reading this article, I just want to clarify: Am I to understand that even if my son is taking probiotics regularly, it won’t do anything to promote a healthier gut?
Probiotics can help and I gave my kids Bio Kult at that age because they could chew them. For yogurt, have you thought about making your own? It is hard to find even a natural brand without sweeteners or fillers.
I hear so much about the benefits of yogurt because it supposed to put back and balance gut bacteria yet, all yogurt in our stores are pasteurized. If pasteurization kills the bacteria, what or where is the benefit?
Aloha wellness mama:-) I have a question…I am a super natural holistic mama-homebirth clean diet etc I never take medicine not even Advil etc..my 4 month old is exclusively breastfeed..I am really upset bc my wisdom tooth got infected and I am in severe pain and the doc have me an anti biotic that is compatible w breastfeeding I know antibiotics will mess up my gut flora and I am planning to take probiotics etc but will taking the antibiotic and breastfeeding affect my babies gut flora ?? Thank u so much ~ blessings
Hi Katie,
I have a two week old infant who was born by c-section and she is being bottle fed. Long story short I could not breast feed and I am extremely disappointed by this. What type of probiotic do you suggest I use for a newborn? I feel like we are behind in gut health! Any input would be really appreciated! Thanks!
With my preemie, I used top quality ones like biokult and spread a little in his mouth before feeding him to help his gut bacteria culture.
Aside from the grimy spoon problem, the probiotic pill is beneficial for those that are vegan, and/or do not such as the structure of yogurts, also the dairy-alternative selections. Me, I LIKE yogurt– specifically the Greek style that’s now popular, and I have no compunctions about dirtying spoons. Plus, popping supplements such as this has that weird, sci-fi “nutrition-in-a-pill” ambiance taking place, at the very least for me. I like to know my probiotics are coming from real meals and not a research laboratory. Something to note: 1) those who can not digest cow’s milk extremely well could have much better good luck with goat’s-milk yogurt, which I, personally, discover tasty. It has far less casein (a healthy protein discovered in cow’s milk) in it that will certainly disturb sensitive digestive tracts. 2)I also make certain and acquire natural. RBGH and RBST have actually been related to creating problems with women’s endocrine systems. So, if unsure, get your yogurt as in your area as you can– or better yet, get some simple natural yogurt (I suggest the Kalona brand if you live in Iowa, like I do), a yogurt-making set and make your very own. I don’t have the area to do the last, sadly– otherwise I would!;-).
I have a one week old baby girl. She is EBF but has smelly gas (like rotten egg) and doesn’t poop everyday. Her last two poops have been smelly as well and aren’t yet yellow even though I think they are finally beginning to change over. I had an epidural and pitocin during labor. We declined the vitamin K injection and instead were going to do the drops. My husband administered less than a drop into her mouth on the day of her birth. Since then I’ve read that could have compromised her gut health. If that’s the case, what can I do for her? She doesn’t seem to be bothered by it or in any discomfort. Could it be a side effect from the drugs I was given in labor? Or the vitamin K? I’m hesitant to continue her dosage. Thank you for any help you can provide! I should also note that before I got pregnant I suffered from IBS issues.
From what I’ve read, grains aren’t necessarily all bad, but you should soak them in water and cider vinegar or lemon juice or plain yogurt to break down the anti nutrients and enzyme inhibitors. You can do this with oatmeal, brown rice, but of course try to avoid white rice and other processed grains because they won’t be good for you anyway. Also, buying a sourdough starter and using spelt flour to make bread is a good way to cut processed white flour and yeast from your diet.
Wellness mama or anyone do you know if acetaminophen is bad for gut health? thanks I am new to this and have been trying to get my body healthy.
Yes, avoid medicine. If you have a belly ache or headache, try peppermint instead