Hormones play an important part in how the body works and operates. Every
cell and function is under
our hormones influence.
Hormones are secreted into our blood and control & regulates things like
Reproduction
Metabolism and energy balance
Sleep cycle
Growth and development
Our bodies defences
Our response to stress
General homeostasis
In relation to our gut, things like Leaky gut and other gut imbalances can impact our hormones. By having an unhealthy gut it can lead to
Autoimmune conditions
Diabetes
Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's
Emotional issues like anxiety and depression
Having a healthy gut microbiome is important, it allows the conversion of food, the important nutrients are then digested and then spits out other molecules that are vital to your health.
One of them being Tyrosine, which is responsible for the conversion of dopamine, this is associated with learning, memory, motor system function, and more. Tyrosine also affects our epinephrine - this is our adrenaline, it raises sugar levels in the blood to give you energy, the flight or fight molecule.
When we are in that constant fight or flight, our body is not in that homeostasis, which throws all of our other hormones and systems to be thrown out of wack, high cortisol levels, thyroid problems and progesterone and estrogen levels to be unbalanced
Tryptophan converts to serotonin & melatonin, which helps regulate your mood as well as your sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory. This is important because we regenerate when we sleep
Or Indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), this is important because our body takes it in and the bacteria in our gut converts it to IPA (Indole propionic acid) this is one of the most strongest antioxidants in the body.
Keeping your gut microbiome healthy is the key to keeping our hormones in balance.
Aids in the synthesis of regulating hormones
Absorbs micronutrients
Aids the immune system
Regulates estrogen levels in the body
What makes a good and healthy gut microbiome
Having a collection of different bacteria is important for hormone balance, and by having a rich and diverse range of food, the rainbow diet. But if you have a bad diet of high fatty foods like pizza, ice cream and hot dogs, it will lead to a skewed ratio of bacteria and will lead to an unhealthy gut microbiome.
Signs of an unhealthy gut
Digestive issues (bloating, gas, diarrhoea and/or constipation)
Weight change
Food sensitivity
Fatigue
Skin irritations
Autoimmune conditions
Hormone imbalance
Estrogen in women helps regulate body fat, it is essential to female reproductive functions, cardiovascular health, bone health and brain function (memory)
When the gut is healthy, the estrobolome a collection of bacteria in the gut is produced optimal levels of beta-glucuronidase. beta-glucuronidase breaks down complex carbohydrates and absorbs bilirubin and flavonoids
Having elevated levels of beta-glucuronidase is linked to conditions like
PMS
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome
Estrogen related cancer - breast and prostate
Endometriosis
Infertility
Mood disturbance
Heart disease
Ways to improve gut health and hormone balance
Be mindful of what you eat
Having a diverse range of fruit, veggies and fiber can encourage microbial diversity
It’s important to limit the amount of "white carbs" - pasta, rice & potatoes because they raise blood sugar level
s rapidly and can cause insulin resistance - which can lead to inflammation in the body, which is the root cause of many diseases.
Pre & Probiotics should also be considered, prebiotic foods like garlic, onion, asparagus & banana provide food the gut bacteria like to feed on.
Probiotics like yogurt, kefir, miso and kimchi or other fermented foods are really useful for introducing beneficial bacteria strains like lactobacillus into the gut.
Incorporate mindfulness and exercise
Stress kills the microbiome, this is because the gut is linked to the brain and they are in constant communication, so the more stressed you are the more this upsets the microbiome of your gut. for example, when your feeling anxious, you can get that feeling of butterflies in your stomach.
With exercise, even if it’s a 15-20 minute walk a day, can help keep you regular, midgait stress and help promote the growth of certain bacteria.
Watching what you put into your body
Things like alcohol, medication and smoking can all have a negative impact on the gut.
Alcohol affects both your gut and the liver and its ability to detoxify our system. Some alcohol like Gin can decrease the number of beneficial gut bacteria.
Medications like antibiotics, although good for killing off bacteria that leads to infections, it kills off both good and bad bacteria, a single course of antibiotic can lead to harmful changes in the structure and diversity of our gut flora
Smoking has detrimental effects on nearly even organ in our body. By giving up smoking, you can improve your gut health. It increases the diversity of the gut flora.
Gut bacteria are important for our health, and disruptions to the gut microbiome are linked to a number of health problems
The bacteria in our gut can be harmed by factors associated with diet and lifestyle, such as poor sleep quality, alcohol consumption and inactivity.
The best way to maintain an optimal gut microbiome is by following a healthy lifestyle, that includes regular physical activity. Low stress and a variety of foods
Another way to achieve this is by using DMKs digestive tune-up. This herbal-based, 3 step process, cleanses, restores and maintains the gastrointestinal system, by removing unwanted and unhealthy organisms, soothing existing irritations, and achieving sustainable gut health as well as rebalancing and making the environment optimal for the growth of good bacteria. You can improve your metabolism, decrease inflammation, re-establish your gut-flora, and get antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral benefits from the Digestive Tune-Up.