In naturopathic medicine, it is believed that most diseases begin in the gut. Our nutrient status is only as good as our body’s ability to digest and absorb the nutrients from our food. The body contains trillions of microorganisms — outnumbering cells by 10 to 1.
An increasing number of ailments including low metabolism, obesity, compromised immune system, appetite problems, and even anxiety and mood are being linked to the state of our body's microbiome - the community of micro-organisms found in the gut.
Creating the right balance is key. For those suffering from obesity, gut microbes can influence appetite, production of gases, the efficiency of using food, and impact on the immune system and inflammation. Interestingly, studies have also shown different populations have different microbes making some lean while others are obese. Where mood is concerned, there’s been a lot of talk about mood food and how eating certain things raises the mood. The same is true about a person's microbiome given the vagus nerve is a two-way highway running from the brain to various organs in the body, including the gut.
