Question 1

How can intensive farming affect our gut microbiome?

Accepted Answer

One of the main ways that modern framing harms the gut balance is through intensive overfarming and erosion, which depletes the soil of nutrients. Soil depleted of nutrients is unable to support the diverse range of microorganisms essential for optimal digestive health. Another way that intensive farming harms the gut microbiome is the use of pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals can kill beneficial bacteria in the soil and the gut, leading to an imbalance in the gut microbiome known as dysbiosis.  This is a major public health concern, as dysbiosis has been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and mental health disorders.

Question 2

How can we nurture our gut health?

Accepted Answer

Diversity plays a significant role in shaping the composition and function of our gut microbiome. Organic food, fermented foods and a balanced diet with lots of roughage can help to promote a diverse and balanced gut microbiome. Excess sugars, processed foods and artificial sweeteners affect our gut bacteria adversely, so eliminating them from our diet is essential to protecting our gut microbiome.  Probiotics in Fermented Foods  Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial to our gut health. They are abundant in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut. Eating probiotics can help to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome.  Probiotics in Organic Greens  Eating organic greens is a great way to increase your probiotic intake, as they contain probiotics from healthy soil. It is important to choose fresh, organic greens that have been grown locally to maximize the probiotic content of organic greens. We should also wash the greens gently before eating them to avoid removing any beneficial microorganisms.  Prebiotics in Greens  Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that are food for the beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome. Prebiotics are abundant in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Prebiotics can help improve the diversity and function of the gut microbiome.

Blog Topic: Nutrition

Understanding the link between farming, gut microbiome and human health

Support your Journey to Optimal Health with essential nutrients and functional food