The Role of Gut Microbiome in Preventing Chronic Diseases
Dr. Purna Kashyap of Mayo Clinic details how a diverse community of bacteria in the gut protects the body and improves digestion.
A diet rich in fiber and vegetables is fundamental for nourishing beneficial microbes and preventing damage to the protective lining of the colon.
Taking steps to care for and strengthen it can promote digestive health and much more, notes Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic and an expert in gut microbiome and digestive disorders.
«The microbiome is a collection of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and the genetic material they carry,» explains Dr. Kashyap.
His long-term goal is to develop new biomarkers and therapies targeting the microbiota to treat functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and chronic abdominal bloating, also called functional bloating.
Lifestyle also influences the well-being of the microbiome, adds Dr. Kashyap: «The bacteria in your gut eat what you eat.»
«Happy bacteria make for a happier life.»
More studies are still needed to understand the connections between the gut microbiome and these diseases, indicates Dr. Kashyap.
The microbiome's ability to «stretch» depends on several factors. What remains passes to the colon, where the bacteria do the rest of the work for you,» comments Dr. Kashyap.
Other lifestyle habits that help protect intestinal health: • Drink plenty of healthy fluids, such as water, and limit or avoid alcohol. • Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days. • Do not smoke. • Practice techniques to manage stress.
Bacteria that inhabit the intestine help break down fiber and starches; synthesize vitamins and amino acids, such as vitamins B and K; and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which help prevent diseases.
Your gut microbiome is as unique as your fingerprint. This is one of the reasons it's important to avoid the overuse of antibiotics, says Dr. Kashyap.
Some underlying diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, can affect which communities of bacteria can thrive in your gut and which cannot.
«By breaking down the fiber in an apple, they generate beneficial compounds for the colon cells and for the body in general.»
If beneficial bacteria are lost, it opens up space for some of the disease-causing bacteria to proliferate. As a result, they will try to get nutrients from the intestinal lining and damage it in the process.»
On the other hand, if your diet is loaded with a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and fiber, you will nourish a diverse microbial community in your gut.
«The more varied the gut's microbial environment, the greater its capacity to adapt to changes without losing balance,» notes Dr. Kashyap.
The microbes living there perform numerous tasks. Imagine your microbiome is like a rubber band. The gut's is probably one of the most varied in the human body. It maintains the integrity of the intestinal barrier, a protective intestinal lining.
«When you eat an apple, for example, the stomach and small intestine digest part of it. But what about your gut's microbiome? But if it stretches too much, it can break.»
In addition to infections like C. diff, microbial imbalances are believed to be involved in common diseases such as colon cancer, diabetes, depression and other mood disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cardiovascular diseases.
Among them is how long the disruption lasts.
Meanwhile, resolutions to improve health generally include measures like exercising more, eating healthier, and quitting tobacco.
Their symptoms range from rashes to severe damage to the colon, potentially fatal.
«The same thing happens in situations like travel or frequent fast food consumption. It can stretch a little and return to its shape.»
