It’s on television, in the newspapers and every kind of media including Facebook, Instagram etc - the ever evolving world of the impact of your gut microbiome on your health! However, of recent special interest is the affect that your gut microbiome has on your mind! You may be thinking how can such tiny microscopic organisms possibly affect my mind? Much research is being carried out to see how this happens, due to the importance of the role of the microbiome (your bacterial ecosystem) in autism, ADHD and depression. The gut microbiome of people with these conditions has been found to be different to the rest of the population.The improvements in health that have occurred by working with their bacteria to improve their gut microbiomes have been outstanding. Being able to reverse some of these health conditions or prevent them from occurring in the first place would be a giant step forward in modern medicine and so help many people of all ages.

What influences your gut bacteria?

Lifestyle and dietary choices, stress, current and past illness, environment, toxins, medications, surgery and even birth and childhood can all have an impact on your gut microbiome. Did you know that something as simple as eating yoghurt twice a day for a couple of weeks can change the makeup of your gut bacteria. This in turn affects the production of compounds such as neurotransmitters and other neuroactive chemicals that modify brain chemistry.

Signs that your gut microbiome could be affecting your brain

• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Concentration issues
• Loss of memory
• Dementia
• ADHD
• Headaches

What symptoms indicate that you may have an unbalanced gut microbiome?

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• IBS
• Bloating
• Reflux
• Heartburn
• Gut pain
• Flatulence
• Nausea
• Bad breath
• Feeling sick after eating
• Dizziness
• Weight loss
• Weight gain

Are there any other health conditions that might indicate that something is out of balance?

Basically, you can consider anything that is inflammatory and painful:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Fibromyalgia
• Multiple Sclerosis

If any of these sound like you – what can you do about it?

It’s really quite simple. Just a few healthy dietary and lifestyle changes are often all that it takes. If the health condition has been happening for a long time, then you may need some assistance from your naturopath. Your naturopath will take a full health history to help to identify possible causes of your gut microbiome imbalance and guide you on your journey to better health and improved mood and memory.

Naturopath Janne Ramsay

Janne Ramsay Naturopath has a special interest in digestive health and specialises in treating people with gut issues. Janne is passionate about the ongoing developments in gut health and the use of probiotics and the role they play in your health. She specialises in identifying the root cause of the problems that her patients are experiencing and then tailors an individual treatment protocol for them. To achieve good health and wellness in 2016 make an appointment with Janne to review your health and learn more about maintaining better wellness and energy………. Learn more about Janne here...  If you would like to find out more you can book an appointment to see Janne or enrol for her next free Good Health = Good Digestion workshop References Brain changer strategies – natural solutions for brain & gut health. Mediherb Inclinic Seminars, June/July 2016. The Atlantic – When gut bacteria changes brain functions, David Kohn, June 24 2015.