The quality of research and attention that the gut microbiome has received in recent years has been a miracle. This is because Western allopathic medicine (allopathic meaning treatment on the level of effect rather than on the level of cause, symptom management rather than root cause treatment) has had a major blindspot in understanding the gut and its influence on our whole well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda are highly advanced and truly holistic ancient healing sciences of the East that have recognized the gut as a key or the “seat” of health for millennia. Hippocrates, who is often considered the father of Western medicine (though many would righteously pose Hermes as such) has been accredited for saying “all disease starts in the gut.” The wise ones who have given scholarly gravity to our intestinal tract beckons our awareness for good reason. We don’t need to sift through ancient medical scrolls to get this knowledge though because PubMed (an online database of published scientific studies) has a huge body of research on the gut and it’s right at our fingertips. Though a simple awareness of the far reaching effects that our gut microbiome has on the entirety of our wellbeing will likely be enough for this writing to be of significance to you.
Probiotics have had a merited moment in the spotlight recently. They are nourishment for the microbiome. However, there’s another piece of the gut puzzle here, called prebiotics. Prebiotics serve as the energy source for probiotics by bestowing carbon to the beneficial bacteria. As science goes, the definition of prebiotics has evolved and been updated several times since it was first defined in 1995. A recent definition provided by PubMed is “a nondigestible compound that, through its metabolization by microorganisms in the gut, modulates composition and/or activity of the gut microbiota, thus conferring a beneficial physiological effect on the host.”
Some of the known health benefits conferred from prebiotics:
Mineral absorption. A study conducted in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that prebiotics increase the bioavailability and absorption of calcium in the body. Calcium is one of the most important minerals for healthy bones. This is particularly important considering that according to the National Osteoporosis foundation, 54 million Americans have low bone mass, increasing their risk for osteoporosis.
Immune support. The microbiome has a critical role in the healthy functioning of the immune system. The fermentation of the prebiotics in the gut has been shown to influence immune cells.
Enhanced SCFA (short chain fatty acids) production. SCFA’s are the main energy source for the cells that line the colon. They also reduce inflammation, reduce body fat, increase enzyme activity in the liver, and improve blood sugar levels.
Protection of the gut lining. Leaky gut is a condition that is getting a lot of attention in the field of health and wellness. This is because we’re seeing a huge wave of leaky gut in the American population and the effects of it are grim. IBS, nutritional deficiencies, depression and/or anxiety, autoimmune disease, skin issues, joint pain, difficulty focusing, chronic fatigue, getting sick often, to name a few. The compromising of the integrity of our gut lining has its roots in our diet and pharmaceuticals/antibiotics. If you are consuming processed foods, non-organic foods, gluten that has not been fermented, are taking pharmaceuticals, or have been given rounds of antibiotics, a further inquiry into leaky gut may serve you well. A link to an informative podcast on this topic is provided at the bottom. Prebiotics have been shown to have a therapeutic effect on the healing of the gut lining.
Fortunately, prebiotics can be found in a variety of nourishing foods and herbs such as:
Cacao, asparagus, burdock root, dandelion root and greens, chicory root, seaweed, cassava, elecampane, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, oats, apples, flaxseeds, jicama. **prebiotics are water soluble, meaning they can be extracted into water. This is good news for tea drinkers and broth sippers.
Link to podcast on leaky gut:
https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/03/20/podcast-hc2/
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12540407/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25594887/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23821742/