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Gut Health

A healthy microbiome can potentially reduce risk of various diseases and improve quality of life.
Dr. Tara Shelby, ND, LM

Integrative Physicians love to study, test and treat your gut.

The human microbiota consists of over 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harboured by each person, in different parts of the body such as the skin, lungs, vaginal canal but primarily the largest part of the human microbiome resides in our intestines. A healthy gut is key to a healthy life.

Types of bugs in our gut include bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, protists and more. The traditional view is that a human body is a collection of over 10 trillion cells which are themselves the products of over 23,000 genes. When you look within the nooks and crannies of every human being (especially in the guts), we’ve discovered over 100 trillion bacteria of several hundred species bearing 3X the amount of non-human genes. Gulp. So scientifically speaking we are superorganisms made of up smaller organisms working together…we hope.

The power of your microbiome

Our gut microbiota does way more than simply “digest” our food into usable nutrients. We know the microbiota in our guts affect the biological functioning of every organ system in our bodies. When you look more closely, we are composed of far more bug genes and cells than we are human!

Perhaps you’ve heard about fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), where we implant stool from a healthy individual into another, most known for treating the dangerous and drug-resistant bacteria Clostridium difficile. Sounds gross, but you might be shocked to know that FMT is currently being studied across more medical specialties and for more diseases than you would have ever expected.

Although we currently don’t have the complete sequencing or understanding of what a “healthy” microbiome actually means, we do know that our gut bacteria are negatively affected by food, environmental toxins, pharmaceuticals and stress.

We also know that our microbiome has a substantial impact on how our immune systems develop and function beginning from how we are inoculated through our birthing process. New information is suggesting that this process might be starting before birth while a fetus is in the womb and dependent on maternal food consumption during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy!

Eat to improve gut health

It’s important to note that while certain factors can negatively impact our gut bacteria, there are also things we can do to support a healthy microbiome. Eating a diverse range of whole foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, can provide a variety of nutrients that our gut bacteria thrive on and lead to a healthy gut. Additionally, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics and incorporating stress-reducing practices into our daily lives can also have a positive impact on our microbiome.

As research continues to uncover the complexities of the microbiome, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the health of our gut bacteria plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. By taking steps to support a healthy microbiome, we can potentially reduce our risk of various diseases and improve our quality of life.

* This post was originally printed in the Village Medicine Seattle’s Wellness Quarterly Magazine, 4Q23 Edition. Read and download the full publication

About The Author

Dr. Tara Shelby is a Naturopathic Physician, CEO & Founder of Village Medicine Seattle. Tara believes that the best doctors are those who serve as ambassadors of information and who take the time to consult, engage, and empower patients.

Learn more about Dr. Shelby