Having a healthy microbiome, or community of microorganisms, in the gut depends on the presence of a wide diversity of helpful organisms and a low percentage of destructive organisms. These helpful organisms protect our gut lining by keeping it intact. A stomach lining with no protection can become permeable, which allows the bad bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The toxins and “foreign invaders” in the bloodstream can trigger inflammation, causing allergic reactions and immune responses that cause the whole body to inflame. We now know that a pro-inflammatory state paves the way for most chronic illness, and is also a predictor of future weight gain.
Leptin, also called the satiety hormone, helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger. It happens to come from fat cells. Probiotics can improve leptin sensitivity in our bodies so our brain gets the signal to stop eating. Probiotics also improve our sensitivity to insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas when we eat sugar. When we can’t regulate how our bodies process sugar, the consequence is weight gain.
You can feed your unique mix of good probiotic colonies by giving them their favorite foods, called prebiotic fiber. Bananas, onions, garlic, artichokes and apples will all keep your good bugs happy. Bulking up your gut with probiotics can help you lose weight and keep it off, promote immunity, and eliminate toxins. Remember that the road to health is paved with good intestines!
-- Dr. Kate Kennedy
