1,151 types of gut microbiome are involved in 90% of diseases
There are more ‘microorganisms’ in the human body than human cells. About 1.3 times the number of human cells coexist with microorganisms. If they lined up, they would be 2.5 times the size of the Earth.
In particular, many microorganisms live in the intestine, and about 2 kg of body weight is the weight of the microorganisms in the intestine. According to the Food and Nutrition Committee of the Korean Society of Lipid and Arteriosclerosis, about 90% of the diseases we experience are related to the intestinal microflora.
1151 species of microorganisms live in the gut. They regulate digestive function and biological metabolism, and have a great influence on health. That’s why the microbiome is called the ‘second gene’. The microbiome refers to the total number of microorganisms that exist in a specific space. The ‘gut microbiome’ refers to the microbiome living in the gut and their genetic information. They are widely involved in various metabolic and immune diseases such as colon health, allergies, rhinitis, atopy, aging, and obesity, as well as digestive functions and biological metabolism regulation.
The gut microbiome is divided into beneficial bacteria, harmful bacteria, and intermediate bacteria. The Food and Nutrition Committee said, “Intermediate bacteria can be changed into harmful bacteria by external factors. Since the microbiome is greatly affected by lifestyle, maintaining a healthy diet can create a healthy microbiome environment. It means that we cannot change our genes, but we can control our microbiome to create a healthier body.
There are important lifestyle rules that must be followed to improve the intestinal microbiome environment, which has a profound effect on health. First, intake of processed foods containing excessive sugar and salt should be minimized. This increases the number of harmful bacteria in the gut. Even if you eat too much meat, harmful bacteria increase due to toxins and harmful gases generated during digestion. Conversely, vegetables inhibit harmful intestinal microbes and help the growth and proliferation of beneficial bacteria. Eating high-quality plant foods and fermented foods helps to create a healthy intestine.
It is also important to eat regularly. Irregular eating or overeating makes the intestinal environment unstable, causes waste products to accumulate in the large intestine, and promotes the generation of toxins.
Smoking is also essential. Alcohol intake should be minimized and antibiotics should be taken only when necessary. Stress management and adequate sleep also create a healthy gut microbiome. Since the gut and brain communicate with each other, if the gut is healthy, the brain can also maintain optimal function.