Microbiome Assessment
We now realise that the human microbiota, a previously overlooked and poorly understood system, makes a significant contribution to human biology and development and is a powerful preventative health tool when in balance.
Digestion
• Gut bacteria break down fibre , nourishing their population and keeping gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea at bay.
Immunity
• Gut bacteria assist in the preparation and training of the immune system, which can help fight gut and systemic inflammation. Studies suggest over 70% of our innate immunity comes from our gut.
Metabolism
• Bacterial substances in the gut can affect metabolic functions, such as appetite and glucose regulation, weight gain, skin and hair health.
Mental Health
• Potent neuro-transmitters , our feel good chemicals , are synthesised in the gut.
Imagine the scenario: a scientist at a conference claims to have found a new organ in the human body.
It is comparable to the immune system in as much as it is made up of a collection of cells, it contains a 100 times more genes than the host, is unique and host- specific, contains heritable components, can be modified by diet, surgery or antibiotics, and in its absence nearly all aspects of host physiology are affected. While this may seem far-fetched, it is the current situation in which we find ourselves.
In the past decade we have witnessed an explosion of scientific studies demonstrating that your gut microbiome has the potential to benefit your overall health and support many bodily functions, such as digestion, metabolism, immunity and cognition. Like your fingerprint and DNA, no two microbiomes are the same.
Your microbiome is unique to you and can be impacted by various time points in your life such as how you were born, where you grew up, what medications or supplements you take, exposure to stress, exercise and sleep habits, and most importantly what you eat.
We are starting to understand new therapeutic possibilities relating to food and lifestyle based on a better understanding of how the microbiota interacts with the host's physiology. I now integrate an individual's microbiota into their personalised healthcare plan and skin health plan, and by better understanding its role, treat an individual's diseases more efficiently and in a more targeted fashion. With a more complete understanding of the disease process, we are more able to accurately support different disease states.
I passionately treat the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic target with an aim to investigate, support and modulate in order to treat specific diseases and potentially prevent others. Research suggest diet and lifestyle behaviours driving factors in determining microbiome composition and function.
This is great news because this means you have the power to improve your microbiome health and overall wellbeing by the choices you make. True personalised health care.