What is your bio terrain? Essentially, it is the environment of your body. It is the way you eat and live.  It is the decisions you make every day that impact your health and wellness – which can then influence the turning on or off of specific genes that direct so many crucial immune, hormonal and neurological functions ( epigenetics). One of the most important environments is our gut that hosts critically important bacteria known as our microbiome. 70-80% of our immune function is directed and controlled by the gut microbiome. Without a healthy immune system we are susceptible to a vast array of inflammation based diseases – auto immune, neuro -degenerative, cardiovascular, cancer and accelerated aging.

Thanks to functional and ground-breaking medical research and science we are learning  new information on the power of the gut microbiome and how it affects our internal bio terrain. The science proves that we are in fact more microbial than human. As such, we need to understand the crucial role the gut bacteria play and what we can do to bolster its vitality and  maintenance. Our microbiome also communicate with our genes. This discovery further supports the fact that the microbiome are key players in how we live and function. The microbiome take up residence throughout the body – gut, skin and mouth to name a few.

Our internal biology is impacted daily by so many factors – our thoughts and beliefs, the foods we eat, how much we move and the quality of that movement, our sleep, our exposure to chemical and food toxins and metals, the amount of natural sunlight we get, how we manage our stress and the list goes on. We are not static beings. We are ever-changing. As such, our genes and DNA can change expression, the neurology of the brain can be re-mapped and our microbiome can be altered to either support our physiology or lay the groundwork for illness and disease.

Some Interestting Facts:

– The intestinal lining, epidermal layer of the skin and brain all share a crucial similarity – they are all permeable to both important nutrients and unwanted toxins.

– Food is either supportive medicine or is harmful and robs the body of energy and life.

– Sauerkraut is a natural antibiotic that ferments to produce lactic acid which is toxic to pathogenic bacteria.

– Conventional lotions, soaps, toothpaste are toxic to the body and destroy the microbiome in the skin and mouth.

– Avoid commercial  toothpaste ( they contain SLS  and Triclosan which are both toxic and kill microbiome and hydrated silica – a whitener that damages  tooth  enamel).

– Sodium fluoride is a hormone disrupter, it destroys microbiome, inactivates enzymes, disrupt immune function and causes genetic damage.

– Your skin reacts to toxins and pathogens much like the gut does. You get dysbiosis and leaky epidermal problems where the toxins/ chemicals penetrate the skin and create a pro-inflammatory response. The response can vary from  a topical reaction  to a more complex inflammatory reaction that triggers allergies, etc. 

– The epidermal barrier of the skin is very similar to the intestinal barrier in the gut. Interestingly, so is the brain. 

– Your microbes in your skin talk to your immune system – they protect the epidermal area from UV radiation. 

 – Essentail oils like Frankensense, mrryh, peppermint, clove, orange, cinnamon, lemon and eucalyptus kill pathogenic cells and bacteria. They are great anti inflammatories – also help with respiration and some have anti oxidant properties ( Ex: Clove ). Lavender is a great sleep aid!

– Your moods are largely controlled by serotonin levels which are predominantly found in the gut. Happy gut function = happy moods!

Antibiotics: 

 Antibiotic use can be devastating to the gut microbiome. It can break down the intestinal lining that precedes leaky gut. It is especially damaging in utero or with children that shut down critical microbiome that is vital to strong immune protection. Antibiotics are found in food and drugs. 
WHAT STIMULATES LEAKY GUT?

Dysbiosis ( pathogenic bacterial imbalance ),  SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and a lack of HCL in stomach ) , antibiotics, glyphosate  (pesticide), gluten, GMO’s, chemical and metal toxins found in diet or absorbed through the skin and elevated cortisol due to unmanaged stress.

Anti – Inflammatories: 

1. Butyrate: 
Is a super anti- inflammatory short-chained fatty acid.  Reduces C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor. It promotes neurogenesis in the brain. It regulates BDNF protein, bolsters immunological function, improves insulin sensitivity and great for colon health. It is found in dietary fiber. 

2. Other powerful anti- inflammatories:

– Berbereine: a powerful herb also lowers sugar and insulin. 

– Curcumin ( turmeric ), oregano, quercetin, ginger, cinnamon, dark chocolate and berries 

– omega 3 fatty acids ( wild caught fish and flax seeds)

– garlic and onions.

– Coconut oil ( MCT’s – medium chain triglycerides)

– Flavonoids ( dark leaf vegetables, quinoa, fruits, almonds)

Other  important supplements that support immune, hormonal, neurological and  digestive function 

– Vitamin D3 / K2

– B complex 

– Magnesium citrate 

– Alpha lipoic acid 

– HCL / digestive enzymes

– Full spectrum probiotics 

Mitochondria and microbiome are the keys to good healthy and vitality. 

– At the heart of all disease and dysfunction. 

– Need to treat root causes not symptoms. 

– Use functional and integrative medicine to address  and attack the problems. 

– It is essential to examine the microbiome and gut wall integrity. 

– As mentioned above gut wall integrity is affected by antibiotics, gluten, GMO’s, glyphosate and metal and chemical toxins. 

Gut Healing: These gut bacteria can alter gene expression ( epigenetic) 

1. Lactobacillus planterum: activates the NRf2 pathway ( regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins in fighting inflammation and reducing oxidative stress). 

2. Other important bacteria found in probiotics ( Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacerium longum, Bifdiobacerium lactis).

3. Aerobic exercise impacts microbiome. 

4. Managing your emotions and stress directly affect  the microbiome.

5. Clean eating  ( no gluten, GMO’s and refined sugars)

Gut Grenades:

1. Prescription antibiotics:  destroy gut microbiome and increase risk of immune dysfunction ( cancer and autoimmune  disease). 

2. Fluoride in drinking water:  (Alternatively, use purified and filtered water)

3. Sanitizers and cleaning products.  (Alternatively,  use natural chemical free products)

4. Processed sugar and gluten. (Alternatively, use organic  foods and dairy, grass fed meats, fermented vegetables, healthy fats like coconut milk and oil, avocado, nuts, flax and chia seeds, wild caught fish, onions, garlic, onions, ginger, lemon, carrots and shiitake mushrooms, berries, apples, and collagen protein).

5. Artificial sweeteners: ( Alternatively, use stevia, organic raw sugar and raw local honey which is also great for allergies)

6. Sodium Cloride ( table salt): Alternatively use sea salt or Himalayan salt

Overall Health:

1. Reduce refined sugar and carbs – need to manage insulin resistance in body and brain. Sugar feeds the pathogenic bacteria in the gut. 

2. Rebalance gut flora / micrbiome. 

3. Insulin resistance is a good predictor of amyloid build up in brain (Alzheimer’s )

4. The microbiome controls the dial on inflammation in the body.

5. Gluten is a powerful inflammatory protein. It promotes leaky gut by releasing zonulin which breaks down junctions in the gut wall. Once gluten particles get into the bloodstream they create inflammation and an immune response. Some tissue, joints (Rheumatoid arthritis) and organs (Hashimoto’s Thyroid) share a similar molecular structure and are mistaken for gluten and are attacked by the immune system. Gluten also looks like yeast!

Stress:

– Negative mindset ( fear and anger trigger physiological and biochemical changes in brain and body).

– Noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol alter the gut bacteria composition. 

– Meditation , exercise, restorative sleep, clean eating, minimal exposure to metals and toxins all help to reduce stress and their respective hormonal, immunological and neurological impacts. 

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