How your unhealthy gut might be keeping you fat

On my action list is to compile an updated supplement regimen.  One that really supports the needs of my body at the most fundamental levels.  Of highest priority is to incorporate an ultra powerful probiotic into my diet.

We're all well versed on how probiotics can aid in digestion.  But now there's evidence to support how an unhealthy gut can actually contribute to obesity.  If you were to look at the bacterial makeup of a lean person versus one of an individual who is overweight, you'd notice a distinct difference in the composition.


Our gut is comprised of countless strains of bacteria.  In fact, we have 10 times more bacterial cells in our bodies than we do "human cells."  Most of the body's immune cells are also located in our gut as well.  So a healthy internal flora is critical.  Think of your colon as like a rain forest that supports 100 trillion bacteria.  And the makeup of our bacterial ecosystem is directly related to our diet.

Researchers have studied the probiotic composition of lean individuals versus those who are overweight.  As expected, there's an obvious difference.  But what's even more interesting is what happened when scientists performed a "fecal transplant." Essentially, they transferred the bacteria of a lean mouse to an obese mouse.  Next thing you know, the obese mice developed a healthy weight.

Today's breakfast | Probiotic yogurt laced with Jarrow Probiotics

Why?  Because, essentially, the bacterial makeup of obese mice aren't as diverse as those of lean mice.   This also applies to people.  Obese individuals tend to have fewer varieties of bacteria in gut versus their thinner counterparts.  Some of this has to do with our diet.  What we eat has a direct effect on the composition of our gut.  For examples, some strains of bacteria that are proficient in digesting animal protein aren't as prevalent in the colon of vegans.

Hight fiber foods are fuel for intestinal flora because they aren't fully digested by the body and are therefore able to reach the colon where the bacteria can consume it.  As you would imagine, a diet low in fiber and high in processed foods can starve our friendly bacteria.  This has an adverse impact on our ability to properly digest food and convert it into energy.  Not only that, but an unhealthy gut can be attributed to higher inflammation in the body which is a risk factor for chronic disease.

Have you recently invested your hard earned money in purchasing an amazing hair vitamin to speed up your hair journey?  Better make sure your internal flora is balanced for proper absorption.  Recently we talked about the importance of vitamin D in your hair and beauty regimen.  Well, studies show that taking probiotics actually helps boots the circulation of vitamin D in the blood by as much as 25%.

If you've been prescribed antibiotics in recent past, consider taking an aggressive approach to rebuild your intestinal flora.  Taking antibiotics is like burning down a rain forest.  Your next move should be  to plant seedlings in the form of potent, live probiotics.
.................................................................................................................
To recap:
1. An imbalanced gut could be contributing to your weight gain and creating that balance could have a positive impact on maintaining a healthy weight.
2.  Ideally, we should be eating a healthy, diverse diet filled with fruits, veggies, fermented foods, yogurt, and lots of fiber.
3. Feed your gut live bacteria to rebuild your internal flora. Especially after you've completed a round of antibiotics.
..................................................................................................................