Can bacteria be telling me what to eat?

Dysbiosis is the medical term for imbalance of gut bacteria and can be caused by three main reasons

1. Not enough good bacteria
2. Too many bad bacteria
3. Too much yeast

What are some symptoms?

• Food cravings
• Brain fog
• Skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea)
• Fatigue
• IBS - diarrhea and/or constipation
• Allergies
• Food sensitivities
• Acid reflux
• Bad breath
• Frequent colds or illness

What causes gut bacteria imbalance?

1. Diet - this is the #1 cause of imbalanced gut bacteria. High sugar, processed foods, low fiber, alcohol, fake sugars are all very common in an American diet and all very toxic to the good bacteria in the GI tract. It's no wonder so many people are suffering!
2. Enviromental - unfortunately our enviroment is contaminated with things that kill good bacteria. Glyphosates and other pesticides are a main culprite and they contaminate our food as well as our water. Household cleaners (bleach, ammonia, etc) also readily kill good bacteria as well as antibacterial soaps.
3. Drugs - if you have been placed on antibiotics at any point in your life you are at increased risk for dysbiosis. Antibiotics are the biggest offender but other common medications include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux, steroids and ibuprofen.
4. Stress - chronic stress raises cortisol which is a gut disrupting hormone

How does an imbalanced gut cause cravings?

You are feeding your gut bacteria every single time you eat. A high sugar, low-fiber diet leads to overgrowth of sugar loving bacteria. A poor diet also causes less diversity of gut bacteria as the good bacteria are crowded out. When sugar-loving bacteria move in, you can actually experience even more sugar cravings as these bacteria can change your taste bud receptors (making you want sweeter food), they can stimulate release of hormones and even nerves that can control appetite and the brain.

What can I do to fix my bad gut?

1. Focus on food - real, whole foods can help heal your gut.
2. Filter your water - removing the pesticides and contaminants from your drinking water can make a huge difference in your gut health. Reverse osmosis systems are the best and filter systems are available for as low as $200.
3. Only take medications when necessary - all medications have side effects. Please use the ones mentioned to cause gut issues sparingly and only when absolutely needed. If you do have to take antibiotics be sure to take a high concentration, medical grade probiotic to counteract the guaranteed side effect of killing off your gut bacteria.
4. Use stress reduction techniques - everyone has stress but I am amazed at how few people have any stress reduction practices in their life. Some options include exercise, yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Take 20 minutes out of your day to reduce your stress. It is proven to increase mental clarity, decrease brain fog, improve personal relationships, improve sleep, and imrpove overall well-being just to mention an few.