rAs a Team we have been learning more about the role of the microbiome on us as human beings. It turns out that we would be dead if it were not for our "bugs"! Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that any bacteria on our skin, in our mouths, lungs, nose etc are likely to lead to our demise.... but, that is actually the opposite of what is reality. Our whole team attended a very interesting presentation by Prof.André Van Neikerk (The Human Microbiome - What are we learning and why is it important?) and Prof . Claudia Gray (Brewing the best bugs... Optimizing the Microbiome of the child) in Durban last night, it was a very informative talk, pulling together the information that we need to help educate our clients. The take home important points are that we must have a diverse microbiome for health. The range and type of bugs in our microbiome are influenced quite dramatically by route of birth, c section born babies tend to have bacteria picked up from the hospital environment, not the best start! Whereas vaginally born babies have the mothers microbiota predominantly. The best environment for a baby to be born from the point of view of correct microbiome and minimising contact with harmful types of bacteria, would be at home! All the more reason to call the most experienced natural birth team in Durban! Why are our microbiome bugs so important? Prof Van Neikerk described the functions of the bugs that make up our human microbiome and why they are so important.... it turns out that there are hormones and chemicals that the human body needs to function and is just not able to make, that is why we host our friendly bugs, they are not an optional extra, they are actually essential! We live with them in symbiosis. Just to give you an idea, human milk contains something called oligosaccharides. We used to wonder why the human body put so much energy into making this component of the milk, because it is completely indigestible by baby! Of course, you guessed it.... It's not for the baby, it's to feed the microbiome of the gut, in turn the post biotics, the waste product if you like of the microbiome bugs, are essential building blocks of life for our baby!! Amazing?!! Prof Grey talked about how can improve our gut microbiome (get outside, play in the soil, garden, don't over sanitize) and how that the diversity of the gut microbiome is not just related to the health of the gut, but is linked to every other system in the body even the brain. More and more we are not able to divide off a system in the human body, because they are all linked, nothing works in isolation. The Microbiome is considered so important that it can now be classified as a body system all on its own. A good, diverse gut microbiome seems to have an association with good skin integrity, a lack of skin issues such as eczema, this is Prof. Grey's area of particular interest. She also spoke about the effect of antibiotic use on our essential gut bacteria, one 4 day course of antibiotics will knock out your gut bacteria almost completely, the problem with this is that all those functions that are normally carried out by the gut bugs, are not, so this can affect the immune system profoundly, the gut microbiome is the basis of our immune system. Recolonisation of the gut can take as long as 6 months! By knocking out the good bacteria we also create an environment where the gut can be recolonised by the wrong types of bacteria, which will cause disease ("dis ease" a lack of balance). Antibiotics have their place, but overuse is very damaging. Take home message: "Bacterial wealth equals systemic health" "Good bugs are better than drugs"
0 Comments
|
AuthorCheryl Rowe - Midwife Archives
May 2023
Categories |