Did you know you have a garden growing inside your digestive system?
You may have heard the word ‘Microbiome’ being used in relation to our health lately.
Microbiome is the collective name for the many trillions of bacteria that live on our bodies and inside our gut – essentially our gut garden.
For a garden to be at its best it needs to be tended, fed, watered and cared for. Without loving care the plants and flowers die and the weeds and pests take over.
It is the same for our microbiome garden when we don’t care for it – the good bacteria suffer while the bad flourish.
This imbalance can contribute to a multitude of health issues including:
• Digestive system – IBS, IBD, weight gain abdominal pain
• Immune system – colds, viruses, allergies
• Emotional – moods and sleep
• Vitality – fatigue
• Skin conditions – acne, eczema, rosacea
There are many factors in our modern lifestyles that upset the balance of our good gut bacteria by affecting their growth and diversity and thus allowing the bad bacteria to thrive.
Some of these factors include:
• Poor diet – processed and refined foods
• Additives and chemicals in our food
• Medications especially antibiotics
• Chemicals in cleaners, skin and hair products
• Environmental toxins and pollution
• Antibacterial cleaners
• Lack of contact with dirt and nature
• Lack of exercise
If you would like to learn how to improve your health by restoring the balance and nourishing your precious microbiome, our Naturopath Andrea Mallett can help.
Andrea will thoroughly asses you diet and lifestyle to identify factors affecting your bacteria imbalance and create a plan specific to your needs.
Andrea is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Freedom Chinese Medicine. Call 039486 5966 or click below:
