How Your Gut Health Affects Your Whole Body

Everyone has a small community living inside their stomach. This complex and diverse collection of microorganisms is called the “gut microbiome.” Its primary responsibility is turning food into fuel. However, studies have also linked it to cardiovascular and mental health. It fortifies a healthy immune system and promotes healthy organ functions. 

Like a snowflake, no two are alike. Developing from birth, the gut microbiome is influenced by diet, lifestyle, and the outside world. Because it interacts with other microorganisms, a city dweller’s gut microbiome is different from a rural resident’s. 

The choices people make in their diet, lifestyle, and even medication has a huge impact on this generally well-calibrated machine. That’s why learning about gut healthy foods along with prebiotics and probiotics is so important. So, read on to learn how gut health can affect the whole body along with how one health care company’s focus on improving it may help extend clients’  healthy lifespans. 

All About The Gut Microbiome

The ways gastrointestinal microorganisms affect the body has been studied for centuries – long before microorganisms were even identified. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Joshua Lederberg coined the word ‘microbiome.’ It’s meant “to signify the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space and have been all but ignored as determinants of health and disease.” 

His research into the gut microbiome arrived at an opportune time. The human genome project was completing its work discovering and sequencing the complete set of human genes when D.A. Ralman proposed a similar sequencing. This second human genome project would create “…a comprehensive inventory of microbial genes and genomes at the four major sites of microbial colonization in the human body…” including the gut microbiome. 

This successful project uncovered literally trillions of microorganisms who  make up the gut microbiome’s complex community. These microorganisms include not only bacteria but also fungi, protozoans, non living viruses and several others – most of whom reside in the gastrointestinal tract. As a recent study explained, “Today, although our understanding of the human microbiome is still unfolding, there can be little doubt that the microbiome plays an important role in human health and disease. The interactions between the microbiome and host immune system affect both human health and disease. For example, the composition of the microbiota at one week of life has been associated with the frequency and number of respiratory infections over the first year of life.”  

This system works harmoniously when its needs are met. However, good gut health is a delicate balance. Studies show that it can be disrupted by overuse of antibiotics along with diet, stress, and a host of other factors. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to improve gut health. 

The Bacteria Patrol

Most of the bacteria in the gut microbiome reside in the large intestine, with the rest occupying the small intestine and the stomach. Most of the bacteria there are beneficial, good bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria maintain the body’s good health through actions like digestion, vitamin synthesis, and stimulating the immune system. On the other hand, bad or harmful bacteria like toxic E. coli, staphylococcus, or clostridium perfringens can do serious damage to the body. 

In the gastrointestinal tract, “good bacteria” are like a tiny police force with the bad bacteria as criminals. They are the ultimate home invader, entering the gut microbiome and crowding out healthy bacteria. To keep these bad bacteria in check, the good bacteria multiplies. This leaves less space for the bad bacteria. When the scale is tipped in the other direction and the bad bacteria gets a foothold, it can result in gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. 

While it’s natural to suspect that the gut microbiome affects gut health, research suggests it can also affect the heart and kidneys. That’s because bacteria in the gut produces trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) whenever someone consumes certain foods including the yolk in eggs and red meat. Studies have shown that elevated levels of TMAO are connected to higher cholesterol levels in the blood vessels. For people experiencing kidney disease, TMAO levels increase as renal function declines. There are even some studies suggesting that high levels of TMAO may actually lead to kidney disease. Olive oil is not only considered one of the foods good for gut health, but its regular consumption may counteract consumption of red meat, egg yolks and other foods by inhibiting bacterial production of TMAO. 

For anyone concerned about their gut health, heart health, or overall health in general there’s a simple way to discover the inner workings of the body. Kyla offers an at-home test that examines lipid levels for heart health along with inflammation markers and blood sugar. If the gut microbiome is unbalanced, these tests can help show why. While other companies offer similar tests for hundreds of dollars, Kyla’s at-home test costs just $99 and may be covered by insurance. Anyone concerned about their gut health should look into getting a simple test like the one from Kyla.   

After selecting a blood test (using Kyla’s quiz for guidance), the test kit arrives in less than a week complete with instructions for sample collection. Upon returning it to the lab, you will promptly receive an in-app report along with personalized advice aimed at improving or maintaining health outcomes.

Unbalanced Gut Microbiome May Lead to a Bigger Gut

One of the more troubling connections is the one between an unbalanced microbiome, diet, and obesity. Dieticians compare a healthy gut to a well-tended garden. Just as a garden benefits from rich soil and careful weeding, the gut microbiome benefits from foods good for gut health. That means regular consumption of vegetables, plants, legumes, nuts, whole grains and other sources of natural fiber. Foods high in polyphenols can promote a healthy microbiome – these include red wine, coffee, and tea. 

Foods high in sugar can affect gut health – and an unbalanced gut microbiome has also been linked to problems with blood sugar and even diabetes. Processed foods can also negatively affect gut health. That’s why many experts recommend adding prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics help feed the gut’s microorganisms. Some prebiotics include legumes, beans, and oats. Potatoes that are boiled or chilled are an excellent source as are green bananas. Having sufficient prebiotics strengthens the body’s immune system and improves its anti-inflammatory process while stimulating the growth of good bacteria. 

Probiotics are living microorganisms that have proven benefits for gut health. Some of the best probiotics for gut health include tempeh, kombucha, and yogurt. Good gut health supplements are ones that have a reputation and usually a name brand behind them. Saving money by buying store brands is not an ideal way to get reliable gut health supplements. Besides, experts suggest that foods, not supplements, are the best way to get a balanced gut microbiome. One of the best probiotics for gut health is sauerkraut – the kind that requires refrigeration, not the shelf stable variety. 

Overall, studies have consistently noted that an imbalanced gut microbiome can lead to obesity. Some have suggested its dominant bacteria the Bacteroidetes and the Firmicutes cause weight gain because they can affect metabolism (causing some to feel hungrier and even crave simple carbohydrates.) Others point to diet as being the main driver with the bacteria merely responding to what is consumed. That’s why eating gut healthy foods can have a real impact both on the gut microbiome and weight. As one 2016 research paper pointed out, “Modulation of the gut microbiome through diet, pre- and probiotics, antibiotics, surgery, and fecal transplantation has the potential to majorly impact the obesity epidemic.”

While genetics plays a role in obesity and weight gain, studies suggest that the microbiome is unique to each individual rather than just handed down like an inheritance from parent to child. In studies of identical twins, not only were their gut microbiomes distinct but in many of them one half had a propensity for obesity and the other did not. The difference was the result not only of diet and lifestyle but where they lived, how frequently they took antibiotics, and a host of other factors. 

The gut microbiome is complex. Recently studies of the microbiota–gut–brain axis have connected unbalanced microbiomes with anxiety, depression, and a host of mental health disorders. The gut microbiome impacts the entire body. That’s why Kyla’s holistic approach to health is so important. Through AI analytics and advanced testing, individuals can learn how lifestyle affects the body. That’s because vital health indicators are tracked including primary care and hormone levels. With the Kyla app, data can be conveniently monitored while progress is easily visualized with colorful graphs. Plus, long lasting changes are possible with proprietary anti-aging treatments. Anyone concerned about their gut health or their overall health can rely on Kyla for personalized recommendations from trusted healthcare professionals. That means addressing the root cause and not just the symptoms.

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