GUT HEALTH (THE MICROBIOME) AND COVID-19

ONE last post before the weekend.

A recent (literally in the last few weeks) study looked at the correlation between severity of Covid-19 symptoms, particularly in hospitalized patients, and gut biodiversity, the variety of microbes in your gut, which is the #1 predictor of gut health. The microbial composition of the gut is what is commonly now known as the gut microbiome. The bottom line is this: there was an almost 100% correlation between gut health and disease severity. 

We are learning more and more about how incredibly important gut health is to just about every single chronic disease we deal with in Western society like vascular disease, obesity and diabetes, the three most common chronic conditions associated with severe Covid cases. Here are a few brief facts:

• 70% of our immune function is derived from the gut. 
• The enterocytes, gut lining cells, produce over 30 different neuropeptides, including 90% of the serotonin, the mood stabilizing peptide, in our body. It also makes 40% of the dopamine.
• There are 500 million nerve endings in the gut, 5x more than the spinal cord and #2 only behind the brain itself. There is a direct connection to the vagus nerve. There is a reason we have the phrase “Gut Instinct”.
  

I have  TON more about the microbiome on my website but let’s just leave it at this: the gut is the most important organ we can heal quickly. It’s all about the foods and the toxins we put into our bodies and we can control that. The #1 predictor of gut health is the variety of fruits and vegetables we eat. 

Why? 

Lots of reasons but the main one is the fiber which healthy gut bacteria LOVE. 95% of Americans don’t even consume the pathetically low USRDA of 15 grams. 100 years ago, people consumed over 100 grams and anthropologists think that our ancestors consumed well over 150 grams a day. And supplements like Fibercon and Metamucil won’t do it. Those products give you big poops but don’t feed the gut bacteria. Neither will probiotics, which are essentially useless and even potentially harmful. The ONLY source of fiber is fruit and vegetables Beans, nuts, seeds… they are all great sources of whole fiber. There is not just ONE kind of fiber. Each plant has a different kind. Contrary to what 70% of Americans think, there is NO, that’s ZERO fiber in animal products. Including meat, fish eggs and dairy. On the contrary, these products feed the unhealthy bacteria in our guts.

In addition to lots of fruits and vegetables, get your rest, limit toxins (and unfortunately too much alcohol is a toxin to the microbiome, exercise and manage stress, all factors impacting on gut, and overall health.

Have a great weekend.

Stay safe and be well. 

AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻‍♂️🌎😷