Resources
WATCH OUT FOR MORE RECIPES AND RESEARCH PAPERS TO BE ADDED SOON
WHY IS NUTRITION SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR HEALTH?
Good nutrition from natural, whole foods rich in phytonutrients is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being, because it provides the body with the necessary macro and micro nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals – to function properly.
What we eat does not simply provide calories to fuel our bodies; it contains important biochemical information that can influence our epigenetics - the way genes within our body are expressed.
These phytonutrients or phytochemicals in our food interact with our cellular processes, turning certain genes on or off, which can impact health and disease.
What we choose to eat can signal our bodies to create health, wellness, energy and vitality or illness and disease.
For centuries, ancient cultures have always known that “Disease begins in the gut” - Hippocrates, Father of Medicine. We now know this to be true as there is a wealth of published data from scientific research studies which prove it. Eating a Western diet containing lots of pre-packaged processed foods, high amounts of sugar and refined grains, fried foods, high fructose products like sodas and conventionally raised animals (especially red meat) has been linked to much of the chronic illness and disease we are experiencing in the world today.
One such research paper is titled: Global Impacts of Western Diet and Its Effects on Metabolism and Health: A Narrative Review.
WHAT IS THE MICROBIOME?
However, the story doesn’t end there. The food we eat doesn’t just feed us humans; it also feeds a population of around 100 trillion organisms that form a delicate ecosystem within our gut - this ecosystem is called the microbiome.
Imagine an ecosystem inside of you so influential it controls your digestion, your immune system, your weight, your sleep, your mood and even how you’re feeling right now. An ecosystem so powerful that it can help give you health and vitality, or possibly cause everyday symptoms including headaches, migraines, poor sleep, low mood, skin issues, weight issues, joint pain, food sensitivities, digestive issues, constipation and more. If unchecked further down the road, these symptoms cause chronic inflammation within your body, and this is at the root cause of most common diseases today, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, some cancers and more.
Because the microbiome has been linked to nearly every major disease today, research studies in the area have become one of the fastest-growing fields in medicine right now. In the last 10 years, the annual number of publications has increased by over 500%. Among the research that has been carried out is the ground-breaking study titled “The Human Genome Project,” which lasted some 13 years, and discovered our bodies are composed of more bacterial cells (within the microbiome) than human cells - and these gut bacteria control our health.
Resulting from this sea of research material, new areas of science have emerged and are attracting attention, such as:
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Nutrigenomics - the science of how nutrients interact with our genes to influence health and disease.
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Psychobiotics - a special class of pre and probiotic supplements that influence and improve mental health issues.
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Clinical Nutrition - the use of diet and specific foods to support healing in the body.
This is such an exciting time we live in because the microbiome is already shaping the future of medicine. In fact, scientists are using specific strains of bacteria they have discovered to treat anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease, IBS and even help cancer patients respond more favourably to treatment.
So, what if the answer to your health was not in a pill but on your plate? Wouldn’t you feel empowered to be in control of your own health? By healing your gut you won’t just change your digestion, you can change your life.
"What you eat matters because food is medicine" - Dr Mark Hymen, MD. IFM
At VitalBiome we are here to guide and support you every step of the way on your nutritional journey, informing and coaching you about what your body and microbiome needs to heal and thrive whilst helping you achieve your personal health goals, whether you want to “clean up” your diet, give your body a well-needed detox, lose weight in a sustainable, healthier way, gain more energy and vitality, resolve current health challenges, improve your mood, your sleep or boost your immune system and protect yourself from illness and disease for a healthier, happier future.