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Health ‘begins
in the gut’.
Nutritional Therapist Natalie Lamb will be one of the speakers at CNM
(College of Naturopathic Medicine) for their Open Day in Bristol on 20th June.
Here, she looks at how imbalanced gut flora can be behind a host of health issues,
including Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
W
e all house trillions of different bacteria and microbes throughout
our bodies. Each of us will have a completely different mix of
these microbes – like our gut fingerprint!
Beneficial bacteria play an essential role as our first line of defence, in
supporting efficient digestive function and gut immunity. More than 2000
years ago Greek philosopher Hippocrates said that “all disease begins in the
gut”. I feel this is still relevant today and believe too that optimal health
throughout the whole body must also begin in the gut.
A number of factors can compromise an optimal balance of beneficial
bacteria throughout the body, including antibiotic therapy, infection, stress,
travel or a period of unhealthy nutrition. An effective solution is to
supplement the microflora by taking a probiotic to restore the balance.
Probiotics have been defined as ‘live microorganisms which when
administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’.
Traditionally we consumed fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut
and pickles on a daily basis. Now days we tend to use probiotic supplements
offering a standardised dose in an easy to consume capsule.
An imbalanced gut flora has long been associated with digestive
conditions such as constipation, loose stools, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS), Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) etc. It is now also commonly associated,
too, with the development of food sensitivities, allergies and atopic
conditions such as eczema, asthma, hay fever, and rhinitis, and a range of
other auto-immune diseases.
IBS is currently estimated to affect between 10% and 20% of the general
population, with approximately 70% experiencing at least one symptom a
year. An imbalance in the diverse gut flora is seen in IBS sufferers, alongside
an increase in gut sensitivity or irritability, possibly related to stress. IBS is
not a disease in itself, but a syndrome with a collection of symptoms
consisting of bloating, pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
Some IBS sufferers also tend to have a range of
symptoms which do not appear to come from
the bowel, but which many now believe are
actually related. These include headaches,
backache, insomnia, faintness, tiredness,
bladder frequency, nausea, indigestion,
itching and muscle pain. An increase in
visceral sensitivity or irritability, possibly
related to stress and or post-infection, is
often seen. An overstimulated immune
system, often seen after a bout of
gastroenteritis, and a range of food sensitivities
and malabsorption issues, are often observed.
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Emotional tension of any kind is regularly
linked with the worsening of IBS symptoms
and often more commonly seen in those
prone to stress, worry, anger, anxiety, fear,
envy, guilt, depression etc. It is important to
take some time to relax each day, such as
enjoying a regular walk, yoga, meditation,
breathing exercises. Remember to get away
from the desk at lunch time or to end the
day with a nice warm bath!
Natalie Lamb
Natalie Lamb graduated in Nutritional
Therapy from CNM and is a Technical
Advisor for Protexin, makers of Bio-Kult
Probiotics. Natalie‘s talk ‘An Introduction
to Gut Flora and Probiotics’ can be heard
at CNM Bristol on Saturday 20th June,
more details below.
CNM events
Thursday 14th May 2015 6.30pm-8.30pm
Attend a FREE Open Evening at CNM Bristol to find out
about training with CNM Bristol for a career in
Naturopathic Nutrition or Naturopathic Acupuncture.
Please reserve your free place on line.
Saturday 20th June 2015 10.30am-4.30pm
Join CNM Bristol’s Open Day at our new venue in
Almondsbury. Hear fascinating talks and be inspired
by the power of natural health.
For details and to book (£10pp) please visit:
www.naturopathy-uk.com
01342 410 505
MAY 2015
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THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE 95