The Huge Deal About the Microscopic Biome
"Biomes" are "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell), from UC Berkeley's page about biomes. I live in the Phoenix Valley, Arizona, USA, a desert biome, but am originally from a lovely deciduous forest biome in Virginia.
Microbiomes are all the smaller biomes that live in and on us (and pretty much everything else in the world). Taking a walk out in the biome can actually improve our microbiomes as we pick up good bacteria from nature and as we breathe the essential oils of the surrounding flora. Interestingly, our microbiomes vary depending on the large biome in which we live. My gut microbial makeup is going to look very distinct from yours, and both of ours are going to look quite, quite different from that of someone living on the other side of the world.
The Big Biomes aren't the main focus of this site, but they are vital to life and health on this planet. The microbes in our soil and on our plants (and animals!) should find their way onto and into our bodies.
The µbiomes of the human body are composed of the genetic material of microbiota - bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea (bacteria-like microorganisms) and their metabolites (the metabalome - metabolic products, ie: butyrate) and can be found in the gut, on the skin, the genitals, and in the mouth, nose and throat, among other places throughout the body (even in the brain, which was once believed to be sterile). For the purposes of this site, i'll be focusing primarily on the µbiome of the gut and in particular the friendly bacteria, etc (the microbiota) or "probiotics" that reside there.
"Why is the gut microbiome so important," you ask? Well, the sexy bugs that reside there do all sorts of groovy things for our bodies, like:
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Protect us from potential pathogens
If you follow health news, you may've heard the terms "epigenetics," or "nutrigenomics." In short, these have to do with how our genes express themselves. Just because we may have a particular SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism - a genetic variation that can affect health in a positive or negative way), say for cardiovascular disease, doesn't mean we're absolutely going to develop cardiovascular disease. Many of the bacteria in our gut help control gene expression. Take extra good care of those good gut bugs! As I like to say, "Take care of them, and they'll take care of you."
No idea where to start? Contact me for a gut health consultation. If you would like to have your gut microbiome sequenced, click here for $39 off Viome's test (normally $399US). It shows active bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, parasites and all their metabolites and gives food recommendations geared toward making your 'crobes happier and healthier. Note: Viome is not a diagnostic test and cannot tell you if you have a gut infection, disease, etc. If you are experiencing ongoing issues, contact me for a consultation; there may be different tests that will be more helpful to your situation.
So, what about probiotics in pill form? It's been shown that probiotic supplementation through pills often doesn't have a long-lasting effect and many don't make it through stomach acid or bile. One of the best ways to reestablish microbial diversity is through the foods we eat! Raw, fresh fruits and veggies have an abundance of good bugs on them and contain fiber and polyphenols that feed good gut bugs. Lacto fermentation increases those good lactic acid bacteria (LABs) exponentially and we get the added benefit of consuming their metabolites! Plus, lacto fermented veggies are DELISH! If you can't consume fermented foods because of an illeness and do need a probiotic boost in pill form, I recommend Microbiome Labs products (MegaSpore, MegaPrebiotic, MegaMucosa for full gut reconditioning). Contact me for more information and to order.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
- Hippocrates
"All disease starts in the gut." Hippocrates was a wise man. He believed that all illness begins in the gut and I agree. Modern medical science seems to be getting on board as well. Often in the news I see research linking the state of the gut microbiome - the microorganisms residing in our GIT (gastrointestinal tract) - to everything from stubborn weight retention, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimers, to "mental" illness including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. After healing my gut, the depression and anxiety that I thought I would have to deal with the rest of my life went away and didn't return.
Hippocrates also said, "Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small daily sins against Nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illnesses will suddenly appear." Again I whole-heartedly agree. Overuse of antibiotics, PPI's (stomach-acid blockers), dangerous environmental chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and other toxins all add to our chances of experiencing ill health by negatively impacting our microbiomes and adding to our overall toxic burden. Nutrient deficient processed foods have replaced healthful fresh fruits and veggies. Industrialized, medicated animals now supply most of the meat consumed across the world. Our bodies can only contend with so much.
"The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it." You guessed it - Hippocrates again! My goal is to help you learn to maintain or regain health through better food and lifestyle choices and nurturing your gut µbiome. Knowledge truly is power; claim yours today! Follow our Facebook page for regular posts about the microbiome, ask me when my next fermentation workshop is scheduled, or make a private health coaching appointment.
Sandi Miller
Sandi's draw to natural healing began at a young age. In the 1970's, her father began ordering jars of supplements and reading a popular health magazine. Sandi remembers sitting in the floor of her parents' bedroom and opening the jars, curious about what they were and sampling the tart vitamin C tablets (with her father's permission, of course!) and reading those magazines as she got older. Natural medicine has always felt right.
After a tour in the United States Air Force in the late 1980's to early '90s, Sandi worked in the nutrition department at a major national-chain health food store and soon gained the position of herbal remedy buyer which entailed traveling to various supplement companies across the country to learn about them and what they had to offer. With companies like Herb Pharm, Gaia and New Chapter sending representatives to do trainings, Sandi quickly became versed in herbs and nutritional supplements and their power to help heal the body, supply nutrients and boost immunity. She continued to study on her own throughout the years and created her own labor-assisting herbal concoctions to use during pregnancy and the births of her children. Today, 25 years later, Sandi still makes digestive bitters and other herbal tinctures and concoctions.
When Sandi experienced a major trauma and became very ill in 1997, she had to learn about health on a much deeper level. With fungal candida overgrowth so severe her doctor couldn't help nor could the herbal remedies on the shelves at her job, Sandi had to learn to tap into the innate wisdom of body to heal itself. Overcoming systemic candida in less than three months with her new-found knowledge of food, gut "flora" and their impact on health, Sandi began teaching others to heal themselves, even giving a talk to a group of curious students at the University of Virginia.
As the availability of pertinent knowledge has expanded exponentially with access to research articles online, textbooks readily available for purchase, online classes and video seminars, Sandi took the opportunity to become a certified fermentationist and health coach and has attended Microbiome and Nutrigenomic Summits both online and in person. She has learned from some of the "gut greats" in the industry. Her favorite clients to work with are those for whom nothing else has worked (and of course, those battling candida!). To work with Sandi, visit her Book Appt page and book a session.