Trillions of bacteria are armed with the power to help or harm YOU

Trillions of microscopic bacteria live inside your gut, forming a complex network that plays a major role in fighting disease, raising metabolism, maintaining weight, and helping sustain a good mood. Your gut is filled with good bacteria and bad bacteria. Think of the bad bacteria as weeds and the good bacteria as plants. If your plants (the good bacteria) are strong, then the weeds (the bad bacteria) do not have a chance to grow. Dr. Fred Schofield has been finding ways to maintain the human gut, like a healthy garden, for over 20 years. The Northwest Phoenix Chiropractor practices at Atlas Chiropractic.

Simple Sugars Feed Bad Bacteria

Simple sugars feed bad bacteria. Foods such as fructose, sugar, processed foods, dairy, wheat, gluten, and alcohol, are processed by the body in the upper gut or stomach. Thus, all the nutrients are absorbed in the beginning of the intestine. Because of this, the good bacteria, in the lower intestine, never gets fed. If your diet is mostly simple sugars and processed food, your lower gut, which grows the good bacteria, will be loaded with an abundance of bad bacteria.

Building a Better Gut

You can build a better gut by eating a diet that consists mainly of complex carbohydrates, such as leafy green vegetables and whole grains that take more time to breakdown. Since these foods digest more slowly, they provide fuel to the good bacteria in the lower gut.

Mood, Energy, Metabolism and Immune Function

Good bacteria, has been linked to reducing depression and anxiety, because of its ability to increase serotonin in the brain. Eating foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, leafy greens and beans, promote good bacteria, which affects the hormone levels that regulate the body’s energy. People with lean bodies have been shown to live with higher amounts of diverse gut bacteria. Diverse gut bacteria can be encouraged by exercise, and eating fruits and vegetables. 70% of your immune system is related to how your gut functions. Simple sugars and processed food reduce immune system function. A diet that can help grow the healthy flora in the lower gut encourages a strong immune system.

Schedule a consultation today with the Healthy Gut Gardener: Dr. Fred
Call 1-602-938-8868 to set up a health consultation with Dr. Fred Schofield at Atlas Chiropractic in Northwest Phoenix today. Learn more at www.atlaschiropracticphoenix.com.