Every day we carry around 10 times more microbial cells than our own. As Dr. George Weinstock, professor of microbial genomics says, “You’re not just a human, you’re a kind of super organism because you’re a community of all these things that are with you your whole life”.
Our microbial partners carry out a number of metabolic reactions that are necessary for human health like:
- harvest energy from foods
- improve gut motility and function
- reinforce our gut barrier
- protect against pathogens
- synthesize vitamins, hormones, and amino acids
- influence our brain, liver, kidney, skin and vaginal tract function
- and much more!
Due to innovations in testing, we can now identify the microbial communities, their genes, and use that information in helping people return to health. At Boise Natural Health we can test for over 50 different microbes that inhabit your GI tract and review them with you.
https://boisenaturalhealth.com/test-your-gut-microbiome-with-a-simple-stool-sample/.
Here are two easy ways you can start feeding your good gut bugs now and keep that super organism that is you functioning optimally!
1. Feed your bugs resistant starches. Resistant starches increase our beneficial population and increases short chain fatty acids – food for the good gut bugs.
- Oats. Oats are one of the most convenient ways to add resistant starch to your diet.
- Cooked and cooled rice. Resistant starch amount increases over time.
- Beans and legumes. Soaked and heated.
- Raw potato starch. 1 tbsp a day in smoothie or overnight oats. Don’t heat.
- Cooked and cooled potatoes. Don’t reheat – think salad.
- Green bananas. Replaced with simple sugars as they ripen.
2. Eat a phytonutrient rich diet! In other words, like mom said, eat your vegetables. Go for a rainbow of colors at two of your meals. If you’re an omnivore, consider going vegan for two nights of the week or more. Check out the recipe section on our website or these other websites: https://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php and https://nourishingmeals.com/about
For more help keeping your super organism healthy, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consult at Boise Natural Health Clinic.