13/07/2024
Microbiome Crash Course #1 - Introduction to the Microbiome
What is the Gut Microbiome? 🦠
A collection of 1000+ species of bacteria that live in the small and large intestine that regulate not on gut function but indeed cognitive function and mood via the "gut-brain axis" 🧠
There are 10x more microbial cells in the body than human cells with the Gut Microbiome weighing ~2kg 🫢
These bacteria feed on everything you eat and the mucus lining the gut.
Are all gut bacteria bad?
No! In a world without microbes, most species (including humans) would be extinct. A gut without bacteria
1) cannot extract nutrients properly
2) abnormal gut barrier and as a result
3) more susceptible to infections and
4) behaviour deficits associated with neurological impairment.
However, there are some bad ("dysbiotic") bacteria which can disrupt the functional environment good ("probiotic") bacteria create. It is this imbalance (more bad than good bacteria) that is responsible for the creation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome related symptoms (Diarrhea, Constipation, Brain-fog, low-mood, indigestion, etc.)
Therefore Dr. Froomes' "Repair-4" Program is focussed on addressing this bacterial imbalance in order to resolve IBS.
sources: NIH, Science Direct