Health complaints

Are you wondering whether your health complaints could have something to do with your microbiome?

It could be connected to your gut microbes! There are many species of bacteria in your gut and they can influence your body in different ways:

• They help you digest your food

• They can influence your immune system; Some bacteria are known to stimulate excretion of anti-inflammatory substances or even excrete anti-inflammatory substances themselves. 

• They can help protect against unwanted bacteria by occupying space in your gut or by excreting antimicrobial substances

Sometimes the balance of this network is disturbed, which can lead to a whole array of problems. Constipation, bloating and leaky-gut are only part of the intestinal complaints that can be connected to the gut microbiome. Also inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are linked to changes in the composition. Even more systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, may be related to a disbalance in your gut bacteria.

Whether these changes are cause or effect is still debated, but we do know that a low diversity is often seen with abdominal complaints. We also know that there are some species that you would rather not find in your gut.

Check whether your microbiome is diverse enough or if you are carrying unwanted bacteria with our microbiome testkit. Are you looking for more specific advice? Do you want to know whether your complaints have anything to do with your gut microbiome? Contact one of our partnered healthcare professionals for a consult.

Learn more about the microbiota

Food

Do you know which foods would help to improve your microbiome? 

When you eat something it is partly digested by your own body and partly by your microbes. By feeding your bacteria with the right nutrition you can promote the growth of certain species and decrease the amount of unwanted species. 
Science cannot yet say for all species what you should eat to promote the growth. However, we do know how to optimize your diets for some beneficial species. For example, Akkermansia muciniphila is known to stimulate the development of the inner lining of your intestine, which improves the health of your gut. You could help Akkermansia grow by changing your diet: 

• Add or increase the amount of whole wheat grains like whole wheat rice, oats, pasta or couscous to your diet 
• Add more oligofructos sources to your diets, such as onion, garlic, leek or artisjoc
• Fast for 12 hours; By fasting you give bacteria who can last longer on no extra food (like Akkermansia) a better change to grow. 

Optimize your microbial composition and get the best out of your gut with our microbiome teskit.  Contact one of our partnered healthcare professionals to help you improve your microbiome through your diet!
 

Learn more about the microbiota

Sport

Ever considered improving your sports achievements through your gut?

Not as strange as it sounds! Your gut microbiota plays an important role in the functioning of your metabolism. For all athletes who track their intake of food and are generally careful with what they ingest in order to maximize their performance – you can further complement this with a microbiome test. Studies on how and to what extent the microbiota can improve physical skills are ongoing, but some links have already been found. For example:

• The level of butyrate producing bacteria and the Firmicutes to Bacteroides ratio are positively correlated to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
• The microbiota composition has an impact on intestinal inflammation, muscoskeletal health and associated recovery
• Maintaining hydration during exercise 

Want to learn more and try it yourself? Order it here. 

Looking for more detailed advice? Feel free to contact one of our partnered healthcare professionals to further discuss the benefits of your gut microbiota, and what it can do for you!
 

Learn more about the microbiota