Microbes
Our growing understanding of the influence of microbes on health has been described as the greatest scientific revolution since Darwin’s theory of evolution.
We have never existed without microbes and we cannot function well without them. Whilst they exist all over our body, the greatest concentration of microbes is to be found in our gut, particularly the large intestine. Via our gut lining, our immune system, our nervous system, our hormones and through gene expression, our resident microbes are influencing who and how we are. This fact is central, both to my one-to-one practice, and to the events I run. My events involve the joyful exploration of our intimate inter-relationship with microbes and how they might be influencing our health. Deepening our understanding of this also holds the potential to improve our relationship with the natural world upon which we depend.
Microbes and health
As we have evolved, we have outsourced various functions to our microbes. They digest fibre for us, produce short chain fatty acids that nourish our gut lining and act as signalling molecules. They produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and GABA, numerous vitamins including vitamin B12 and vitamin K and they produce more than 1600 different enzymes. They are influencing us at every level, both directly and via the chemicals they produce.
Gut microbiota dysfunction has been associated with an extensive list of illnesses including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, coeliac disease, cardiovascular disease, eczema, psoriasis and cancer. It is safe to assume that gut health is involved in most health issues. The exciting prospect though, is that unlike our genes, our gut microbiota are to some extent malleable; we can alter them and the chemicals they produce, thereby altering their influence on our health.
And the key factors that affect our gut microbiota include stress, diet, exercise, sleep and contact with nature. This developing area holds huge potential, but it is important not to overstate what we know at this stage. A lot of claims are being made about commercial products and this should make us wary. This is a relatively new and extremely complex area with so many influencing factors at play. I take care to respect this fact in my approach to supporting gut health.
Want to learn more?
Join me at one of my educational and entertaining events, where I share my knowledge and enthusiasm for nutrition, herbal medicine and microbes. The particular focus of each event differs, but I bring my irrepressible enthusiasm for food, herbs and microbes to them all. And the lunch and snacks are delicious!
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