Good Health Starts in the Gut

May 23, 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining good health can often feel like a complex puzzle. Yet, the key to unlocking optimal wellness might be simpler than you think: it all begins in the gut. The gut, often referred to as the “second brain,” plays a crucial role in our overall health, influencing everything from our immune system to our mental well-being.

In this blog, we will explore the incredible benefits of a healthy gut, delve into the importance of  probiotics, and share a delicious probiotic yogurt recipe that you can make at home. Whether you’re looking to boost your energy, improve digestion, or enhance your mood, understanding and nurturing your gut health is the first step towards a healthier, happier you.

First, what is your gut?

The gut refers to your gastrointestinal (GI) system, or GI tract, which includes the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. It also includes the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, which make digestive juices and enzymes that help the body with digestion.

Your gut microbiome is inside your intestines. It is an ecosystem containing trillions of microscopic organisms which include over a thousand species of bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi and parasites. Infants inherit their first gut microbes during vaginal delivery or breastfeeding. Later, your diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to your biome. Some of these exposures can also harm and diminish your gut microbiota.(1)

Most of the microorganisms in your gut have a symbiotic relationship with you, their host. You provide them with food and shelter, and they provide important functions for your health. These helpful microbes also help to keep potentially harmful ones in check.(1)

Your gut microbiome:

• assists with the digestive system through bacteria that help break down food
• helps to metabolize bile in your intestines
• contains up to 80% of the body’s immune cells that help get rid of pathogens
• helps maintain your gut barrier, keeping the bacteria and toxins inside from escaping into your bloodstream
• has anti-inflammatory properties for your gut
• can affect your nervous system through the gut-brain axis
• can produce or stimulate the production of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) that send chemical signals to your brain
• affects the endocrine system by secreting hormones that regulate aspects of your metabolism, including blood sugar, hunger and satiety

Common Health Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut

An unhealthy gut can manifest in a variety of ways, often impacting not just digestion but overall well-being. Recognizing the signs of gut imbalance is the first step towards restoring your health. Here are some common symptoms that might indicate your gut needs attention:

Digestive Issues

• Bloating
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Heartburn

Unintentional Weight Changes

• Weight gain or loss without changes in diet or exercise

Sleep Disturbances

• Insomnia
• Poor sleep quality

Chronic Fatigue

• Constant tiredness despite adequate rest

Skin Irritations

• Acne
• Eczema
• Rashes

Food Intolerances

• Difficulty digesting certain foods
• Bloating or abdominal pain after eating specific foods

Autoimmune Conditions

• Increased inflammation
• Immune system malfunction

Mental Health Issues

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings

Frequent Infections

• Recurring colds or illnesses

Bad Breath

• Persistent bad breath despite good oral hygiene

If you recognize these symptoms, it may be time to focus on improving your gut health through dietary changes and supplementation of probiotics.

Probiotics

The term probiotic is derived from the Greek language meaning “for life.” (2) Probiotics are live bacteria that line your digestive tract. They help support your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and fight off pathogens. Probiotic bacteria are beneficial. They are found all over the body, although most people only think of them as being in the stomach and intestines. (3) There are various ways the probiotics can work inside your body: interacting and stimulating the growth of the body’s good microbes, and inhibiting the growth of pathogens inside the human body. (3)

Benefits of Probiotics

• improve digestive health
• support immune function
• reduce inflammation
• support healthy skin
• helps with allergies
• helps manage inflammatory bowel disease

Microbial dysbiosis is a term used to describe an imbalance in the intestinal microorganisms of the gut. Antibiotic use, bacterial infections, and changes in the diet all contribute to this dysbiosis, which is very common today.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and other intestinal illnesses are associated with a lack of useful bacteria in the gut. Beneficial probiotics in the GI tract inhibit pathogenic microbes from trying to infiltrate and grow by competing for space and resources. Re-establishing healthy bacteria and trying to prevent infections in patients following a course of antibiotics is among one of the most vital uses of probiotics. (3)

It is important to replenish the good bacteria in your gut with probiotics for optimal health, whether it be through fermented foods or probiotic supplements. Your body will thank you!

Healthy Probiotic Yogurt Recipe

One thing you can do to help restore good bacteria in your gut is to make your own healthy yogurt. Because we care about your health and strive to not only educate but also to assist you along the way, we are providing you with a yogurt recipe that we are recommending to our guests. The yogurt recipe that we recommend is significantly different than store-bought yogurt.

We are not only providing an easy to follow, step by step recipe, but we are also providing all of the Amazon links to purchase all the ingredients you need to get started and make many batches of healthy, homemade yogurt to improve your gut microbiome. Click here to see the Healthy Probiotic Yogurt Recipe now!

Do you want to learn more about gut health? We recommend the book Super Gut by William Davis, M.D.

Candida-Free or Yeast-Free Eating Program

Optimal gut health is the reason we ask all of our guests (we call our patients “guests) at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center do the yeast-free eating program in order to help restore balance to the gut microbiome. An unhealthy gut can contribute to unbalanced hormones, among many other health issues. We recommend a yeast-free, grain-free eating program that eliminates sugar and simple carbs.

Candida Albicans is a fungus which lives and overgrows in our intestines causing an imbalance in the normal bacteria of the colon so that we get less normal healthy bacteria, and more yeast. In order to get rid of yeast, it is essential that you starve the yeast, kill the yeast, and replace the normal bacteria in the colon, which is Lactobacillus Acidophilus, with probiotics. 

Holistic Treatments Offered at Hotze Health & Wellness Center

At the Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we help our guests increase their energy level and strengthen their immune system. We are a holistic medical practice who believes that the body has the amazing power to heal itself.

Dr. Hotze believes that everyone deserves to have a provider who can coach them onto a path of health and wellness naturally, without the use of pharmaceutical drugs, so that they can enjoy a better quality of life. Our functional, alternative treatment regimen addresses the root cause of hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone for men, allergies (airborne, food and chemical), Candida, and more.

We now offer many specialty treatments:

• ADHD/Brain Support
• Autoimmune Disease
• Fatty Liver Disease
• Long-Haul Syndrome
• Postpartum
• Weight Loss
• Longevity/Healthspan
• Regenerative Therapy
• Aesthetics  

Our wellness center also has an on-site compounding pharmacy, Physicians Preference Pharmacy, and vitamin store, Physicians Preference Vitamins, so that we can offer the highest-quality products and services to our guests. All products meet Dr. Hotze’s highest standards and contain no unnecessary fillers, sugar, gluten, soy, etc. The Pharmacy is PCAB Certified and considered one of the top compounding pharmacies in the nation. 

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today!

Are you ready to get your health back on track? At the Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we will guide you on the path of health and wellness naturally. Take our symptom checker today. Give us a call at 281-698-8698 for a complimentary consultation! Don’t wait – it’s time to get your life back!

Click here to see our calendar and schedule your complimentary wellness consultation so that we can answer all of your questions about becoming a new guest at our Wellness Center!

Research

1. Gut Microbiome

2. Health Benefits of Probiotics: A Review

3. Role of Probiotics in Human Health

Categories: Blog, Gut Health

Tags: gut health

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