Have you heard of Intestinal Dysbiosis? Did you know that with this strange name an important imbalance of the microbiota of your intestines is defined?
As you will see below, the health of the living microorganisms inside your intestines (your microbiota) is incredibly important to maintain a healthy weight, have a fast metabolism, be in a good mood and have full control over your hormones.
This is nothing new, it turns out that you have 3 times more “live bugs” inside your intestinal tract than cells in your body. These microorganisms intervene in a myriad of functions in your body, and when they get sick, you go through serious health problems.
In fact, if you have an unbalanced microbiota, you will gain weight, starve, and could even suffer from serious illnesses – that’s how important it is.
In other words, when your microbiome gets sick, your body suffers from dire imbalances that can wreak havoc on you. That is precisely Dysbiosis – a microbial imbalance that you cannot see, but you can feel.
What is the normal microbiota?
Attention! Do not think that you have microflora inside your body. These are not “little plants”, but living organisms that coexist in harmony with your body, and that is why the correct word to designate them is “microbiota”.
This set of microorganisms is usually located in different nooks and crannies of your body. Its functions are so important, ranging from the digestion of food, the production of vitamins and even your own protection from attacks by other microorganisms that do not fulfill a healthy function.
They are quite important, don’t you think? In fact, an increasing number of studies indicate that a varied and correctly balanced composition of the microbiota is essential for our well-being.
For example, research from the French Recherche Agronomique Institute found that if you have microbiota levels below normal, you will suffer from severe systemic inflammation.
This is especially important if you want to maintain good physical performance and a healthy weight.
What happens to your body when you suffer from dysbiosis?
The question you must be asking yourself is how do I know if I am suffering from dysbiosis? At the end of the day, you can’t open your stomach and look inward if all is well.
You have 2 options
The first and most accurate is through a medical analysis. The second option is to realize if you suffer from at least one of these symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal swelling
- Constipation
- Heavy digestion
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Colon cancer
- Liver disease
- Allergies
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
Don’t be surprised by this list.
Allergies, bloating and inflammatory bowel diseases are very common when you suffer from dysbiosis.
For example, according to research from the Health Revolution, wheat can wreak serious havoc on your biota. You see, the way you eat plays a super important role with your body.
In this way, if you are allergic to substances such as gluten, your microbiota could suffer serious imbalances without you noticing about it.
This is not everything.
A little further down you will see that diseases such as obesity, Diabetes and even Cancer are very common diseases that are related to this problem.
For example, a study from the University of Rouen confirmed that the composition of the microbiota influences hunger hormones and how they behave within your body.
There is still more. Alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota also affect the central nervous system. This happens because the gut and the brain are connected through endless communication pathways. That is why the following problems could also indicate that you are suffering from Dysbiosis:
- Headache
- Migraine
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Irritability and trouble sleeping
As if that were not enough, our skin also has its normal microbiota, so a change in it can generate problems such as:
- Eczema
- Pruritus
- Acne
The gut microbiota influences problems such as obesity and diabetes
The live critters in your intestines play a major role in your health.
For example, changes in the composition of the gut microbiota can increase your susceptibility to chronic and systemic diseases such as obesity or type 1 and 2 diabetes.
According to research from the University of Washington, a microbiota of obese people passed on to healthy mice, causes the latter to end up gaining weight, as if they were initially predisposed to gain weight.
What is this about?
Microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract carry out multiple functions. First of all, they participate in digestive processes (breaking down complex carbohydrates), such as:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Wholemeal bread
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Etc.
In addition, they break down the fatty acid chains into smaller ones, making it possible for you to use them more efficiently.
In addition, it turns out that your hormones also have a close relationship with your live stomach bugs.
Did you know that an enormous amount of hormones, like peptides YY and ghrelin, are produced in your intestines? These two hormones are directly responsible for your more or less hunger, so do not take it lightly.
This was confirmed by a large number of studies, including recent research from Imperial College London, which showed that you would end up with serious hunger and hunger problems if you had problems with your gut microbiota.
How can we carry out a study of the intestinal microbiota?
The first thing we need is a stool sample. Once you obtain it, you will need to wait a few days for it to be subjected to an analysis with specialized techniques to detect the composition of your microorganisms.
Once the exam is done, the second step is to count the bacteria with the greatest relevance in our intestinal biota.
This allows assessing possible alterations that may cause inflammation, alteration of the immune system, mucosal health and the pH of the intestinal environment.
Indications for the study
The stool study is especially indicated in the following situations:
- Chronic fatigue
- Digestive disorders
- Systemic inflammatory and / or immune diseases.
- Other chronic systemic diseases related to Intestinal Dysbiosis, such as Type 2 Diabetes.
The requirements to do so are the following:
First of all, you should not take antibiotics for at least 1 month before obtaining the sample.
Why shouldn’t you? Taking too much antibiotics can cause a change in your microbiota.
You also cannot take antihistamines during the 15 days prior to taking the sample. Antihistamines are medications that are used when a patient suffers from allergies.
Let us remember that the alteration of the biota can generate allergic processes. For this reason, its use is not recommended, as it can generate an unreliable result.
Finally, patients who have undergone radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments must wait at least 4 weeks before taking the sample.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used in cancer patients. The first uses radiation, and the second chemical substances, both for the same purpose to combat this disease. Its performance generates alterations of the microbiota.
How should you interpret the study?
Pay attention to the normal values of the following microorganisms:
- E. coli
- Enterococcus sp
- Lactobacillus sp
- Bifidubacterium
- Bacteroides sp and Prevotella sp
If your bacteria are out of balance, you could suffer from imbalance. Depending on the imbalance, you will have consequences that your doctor will have to analyze.
Treatment for intestinal dysbiosis
After having made the diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis, the treatment will be aimed primarily at rebalancing your living bugs in the digestive tract.
A natural way to achieve balance is through the administration of probiotics and prebiotics.
What are pro and prebiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits on the host when taken in adequate amounts. They are effective in preventing and treating diarrhea, as well as certain allergies. In addition, they help to eradicate digestive discomfort.
They have also been shown to be effective in the long-term treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are indigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by stimulating the growth or activity, or both, of beneficial colonic bacteria.
In turn, they increase the production of short chain fatty acids. Much of the Dysbiosis treatment strategies are diet-based, safe, and can be applied quickly and easily.
These are some foods that contain probiotics
Here is a list of foods that contain probiotics, as well as how to consume them, so that you can incorporate them into your diet and improve your intestinal health.
- Kefir: is a food native to the Caucasian region in Russia. It is similar to Bulgarian yogurt, although its composition uses fermented goat’s milk.
- Kimchi: food from Korea. It is based on the use of Chinese cabbage, garlic, onion, red peppers. It is a salty and spicy dish, but its consumption strengthens the defenses and regenerates the microbiota.
- Kombucha: it is a very healthy fermented tea for the body, it contains vitamins of group B, C and minerals.
- Gherkins: they are small tanned cucumbers that are obtained through a fermentation process with brines. It is rich in sodium and low in calories.
- Miso Soup: It is a low calorie soup with abundant minerals and vitamins. Its recipe uses abundant soy sauce, considered a natural remedy for the cure of digestive ailments.
- Tempeh: it is a fermented food that contains abundant soybeans. It is considered that it can substitute meat or tofu.
- Yogurt: it is recommended to preferably consume those made at home since the others undergo an industrialized process that includes abundant corn syrup.
Foods that contain prebiotics
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Potatoes
- Garlic
- Onion
- Leek
- Wheat
- Oatmeal
- Barley
Final words
Don’t complicate your life thinking about whether or not you have Dysbiosis. It’s better to prevent than to cure. First of all, follow these tips:
- Eat a balanced diet
- Eat foods rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
If you have diarrhea, bloating or stomach heaviness with light meals then watch out! -, in that case you could be presenting intestinal dysbiosis.
Start by consuming pre and probiotics, and consult a doctor.
