The healthy gut contains a large number of “friendly” bacteria, which your body requires in order to maintain balanced, healthy digestion. These bacteria are required to do the following:
- Aid indigestion
- Essential vitamin synthesis
- Detoxification of undigested food particles
- Increase nutrient absorption
Dysbiosis occurs when the normal flora of microorganisms becomes disrupted and the gut is no longer able to perform its normal function; leading to inflammation, malabsorption and increased toxicity. There are a variety of causes such as a poor diet (high in sugar and low in fiber), medication (corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory …) and even chronic stress that have been associated with dysbiosis.
However, the most common cause is repeated broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Antibiotics are able to eliminate infectious bacteria in the body, however in doing so healthy bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria are also eliminated. With repeated use, it becomes increasingly more difficult for your body to maintain a balanced microflora making it easier for opportunistic infections to occur.
Common Dysbiosis Symptoms & Associated Conditions
- Digestive symptoms: Bloating, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, gastroenteritis …
- Fatigue
- Skin conditions
- Arthritic pain
- Vitamin deficiency
- Autoimmune conditions
- Asthma
- Food & Environmental Sensitivities
Dietary Recommendations for Dysbiosis
Diet plays a critical role in the microbiological makeup of the intestinal microflora. For a healthy gut microbiome, it is recommended to follow these dietary recommendations:
- Increase fiber intake by having plenty of fruits and vegetables, beans, lentils and chickpeas.
- Eat fermented foods: Plant based – Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Kefir, Tempeh.
- Eat foods rich in polyphenols: dark chocolate, green tea, onions, blueberries, acai, gynostemma tea.
- Have healthy fats from olive oil, avocados, coconuts and nuts .
- Avoid processed all foods, refined sugars, carbohydrates and saturated fats.
- Limiting or best to exclude red meat, chicken, fish and eggs which is loaded with unfriendly microbes
- Regularly weed out unfriendly microbes by doing a parasite or gut cleanse – one of naturopaths can advise on the best one for your conditons. It is advisable to do this every three months.
- Take an anti-inflammtaory gut healing superfood powder such as InflammX daily to control inflammation and heal the gut lining.
- Take a probiotic supplement following the parasite cleanse: can be necessary to replenish the natural microflora required for healthy digestion as well as to prevent the growth and attachment of unwanted microorganisms in the gut.