Let the microbiome speak

The back-and-forth banter amongst health experts, regarding diet and eating strategy is enough to overwhelm any individual seeking to make lifestyle changes.

We have “good” foods and “bad” foods and some “good” foods are “bad” for some people. Certain diet experts will speak with full certainty in the “RIGHT” way to eat, but can there really be a “Right” way?

With microbiome science evolving, the new age health professional is challenged to adapt to emerging science in the name of individualism. For instance, through gut testing and scientific monitoring, we have been able to literally see the instant inflammatory reactivity to a fast-food meal. We can see that each gut reacts differently to different foods, fasting and probiotics. Long gone are the days of recommending a basic, generic probiotic supplement and a concrete dietary protocol when different bacterial communities need different support.

One thing is sure however, without a good understanding of gut functionality, bacterial communication and client symptomology, health professionals rely too heavily on basic diagnostics and coaches rely too heavily on cookie cutter approaches to nutrition and lifestyle.

In one study, Islamic fasting lead to an increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides fragilis bacteria. Akkermansia Muciniphila are beneficial gut bacteria known to strengthen your gut lining, support microbiome health, and protect from disease.

On the reverse, Bacteroides Fragilis bacteria are Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. It is part of the normal microbiota of the human colon and is generally commensal, but can cause infection if displaced into the bloodstream or surrounding tissue following surgery, disease, or trauma. This means that an overabundance isn’t initially dangerous but can pose a future problem.

How confusing right? Does intermittent fasting benefit our Gut microbiome or harm us? This is a perfect example of why we can’t have one blanketed recommendation for all persons. The ability to fast is an adaptive skill of the body and does pose many positive side effects but is it always good for every person? By looking at the actual microbiome we are able to assess each person and their habits and narrow down weather or not those habits are helping or hurting their microbiome and therefor their overall wellness.

HWCA is the only coaching program to place massive significance on the importance of reading the Gut and analyzing symptomology when working with clients. The body speaks in many languages. From pain, stress and disease to positive feelings, great sleep patterns and regular cycles, the body is communicating and so is the microbiome. One may argue that the microbiome is speaking through the body.

While we can gain much insight into the health of the body by reading the microbiome, we must also learn to measure that information alongside the body’s signals as well.

 

For more info on becoming an HWCA certified health coach and Gut Specialist, message us today for info.