Good Bugs Vs Bad Bugs – GI Microbiome Mapping

Microbiome’ is a hot topic right now for anyone interested in health; but you may be wondering what exactly it is? You’ve potentially heard about the good bacteria living within your digestive system, and may have even thought about taking a probiotic to support them. Well it’s this internal community – actually encompassing a massive 38 trillion microbes (not just bacteria) – that are collectively referred to as your commensal microbiome. When healthy and balanced, your microbiome has wide-reaching health effects, such as synthesising important vitamins you need; helping to modulate and boost your immune system; assisting with waste elimination (therefore supporting healthy bowel function); and even influencing your mood.

However, your diet and lifestyle choices can negatively impact the health of your microbiome; resulting in a reduction in both the numbers and/or diversity of the organisms within your gut. Disruption to your internal microbial community can then create an environment where pathogenic (disease causing) organisms have the opportunity to grow and prosper. This state of imbalance is termed ‘dysbiosis’, and can lead to a plethora of negative health effects, including digestive complaints, nutrient deficiencies, or maybe a compromised immune system (which can lead to allergies and/or frequent illness) – these are all common outcomes when the microbiome becomes imbalanced.

Certain types of dietary fibre may stimulate excessive fermentation by gut bacteria, aggravating symptoms; this includes FODMAPs. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides (such as fructans found in wheat, garlic and onions), disaccharides (such as lactose found in milk), monosaccharides (such as fructose found in fruit juice) and polyols (such as sorbitol found in prunes), which are all types of fibre that gut bacteria ferment naturally. These fibres normally feed beneficial bacteria, supporting a healthy intestinal environment and bulking up the stool.

However, in IBS, FODMAP-containing foods are over-fermented by ‘bad’ gut bacteria, resulting in excessive gas production and pain. If you feel you may suffer from FODMAPs then make an appointment to discuss your dietary needs and understanding how to limit high FODMAP foods to help you identify your food triggers.  Restricting any food group should always be a short-term strategy. A high intake of diverse fibre types is critical for health, and therefore FODMAP elimination should always be professionally supervised.  If you are unsure why not make a time to discuss with one of our three Clinical Nutritionists.

Take the guesswork out of the equation and take our FODMAPs hydrogen/methane breath test.  More info on our testing page.

For more personalised guidance on how you can take control of your IBS, talk to one of our health Practitioners who are trained in IBS, FODMAPs, SIBO and GI MICROBIOME MAPPING.