Healthy gut bugs? Who knew!

Did you know that there are ten times more bacteria in your digestive tract than there are cells in your body?

Called the gut microbiome, these tiny bacterial allies play a fundamental role in the immune system. When the delicate balance of these bacteria are disrupted, it sets the stage for inflammation, which is at the root of virtually every chronic illness — from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, to autism, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Even a depressed mood, an out-of-control appetite, joint pain, allergies, and thyroid symptoms (as we previously discussed here) can have their roots in your gut microbiome.

Naturopathic doctor and ERFA resident expert, Dr. Michelle Durkin, returns to Eat Real Food TV to answer all of my questions about the gut microbiome, including:

• What is it, and why is it so important?
• What factors disrupt its delicate balance?
• What can we do to optimize the health of our gut microbiome?
• What is the role of fiber, and which fibrous foods should we be looking for?
• What should we be looking for in a probiotic supplement?
• What is the best resource for more information on this topic?

And now we want to hear from you. Dr. Durkin revealed what she would bring with her on a desert island to ensure the health of her own microbiome. What would you bring? Leave your answer in the comments below.