Microbiome and Libido, Mental Health, and Immunity
The word microbiome has been popping up in much health-related literature, but what is a microbiome?
The biome is the “flora and fauna that make up an environment.” Ecologically, for example, the types of plants and animals living in a forest versus those who live in a desert. Each environment has unique properties that cause vegetation and animals to live and adapt
As human beings, we live in balance with the bacteria that surround us. Each portion of our body has a unique balance of healthy bacteria that make up its microbiome or microscopic environment. For example, our skin is populated with a separate bacteria population than our gut or our mouth and even bladder and vagina. We are just beginning to learn the importance that these microbes provide us. It is the symbiotic relationship of these microbes that keeps our systems in working order.
We have been trained to think of the word “bacteria” as a threatening and harmful germ through the marketing of anti-bacterial soaps and hand cleaners. As a mother, I bought into this. Whenever my toddlers touched something “dirty,” I was right behind them with the hand cleaner. But in fact, not exposing my children and myself to the bacteria around us causes more harm than good as humans were meant to be exposed to soil bacteria from playing in the dirt as children to ingesting soil bacteria on our food. Being exposed to beneficial bacteria strengthens our immune system and keeps our system in balance.
Hippocrates stated, “Let food be they medicine, and medicine be they food.” I also translate this into “healthy foods support our microbiome, and our microbiome supports us.” Scientists know that eating a diet high in processed foods such as fast food and high sugars deprives our system of supportive nutrients for our gut microbiome. In modern times, people have gone for convenience rather than whole fresh foods and fermented foods. If we don’t feed our beneficial bacteria, they are unable to do the work for us. Ninety percent of our feel-good hormones such as serotonin are made in our gut. This is termed the gut-brain axis. Most of our immune protective components are produced in our intestines. Without a healthy gut, we expose ourselves to the risk of anxiety, depression, inflammation, and chronic disease. The majority of chronic diseases such as thyroid disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even cancers can be traced back to having contributory factors in digestive microbiome dysfunction.
Also, we can connect the vaginal microbiome to a healthy sex drive, fertility, and Health Wellness. Stress, poor diet, antibiotics, hormonal changes due to birth control or menopause can affect the vaginal microbiome. Just as there is a gut-brain axis, there is a vagina-brain axis. Scientists are working on the specifics, but there appears to be a feedback loop between vaginal health that affects sex drive. If the microbiome of the vagina is thrown off, it makes sense that this would not be evolutionarily an ideal time to reproduce; therefore, sex drive would be shut down. I have often seen a woman experiencing infertility related to an abnormal vagina microbiome in my clinic, once corrected, leading to a successful pregnancy. The majority of cases I see entail women with recurrent vaginal or urinary tract infections. These women suffer for years without relief, seeing doctor after doctor, but no one addressing the underlying cause. By the time they get to me, these women are frustrated and at the end of their rope. It doesn’t take too much time once we can test and see what is happening. Correcting the dysbiosis or overgrowth of “bad” bacteria can quickly return the patient to balance.
What things can you do to support your microbiome?
First of all, don’t get crazy about bacteria. Not all are bad. Consider cutting out anti-bacterial soaps. You can still wash with regular soaps. Soap companies are catching on by making pre-biotic soaps, such as soap company Tom’s of Maine. These soaps contain pre-biotics such as inulin that support healthy skin microbes.
< >Follow your doctor’s advice but try to avoid taking antibiotics unless necessary. For example, don’t request an antibiotic when you have a cold. Most colds are caused by viruses that will get better on its own. Taking an antibiotic in these cases will worsen your health in the long runEat a healthy diet consisting of whole foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Whole foods are “ingredients” or foods used to make other foods. Avoid processed foods or foods that are not naturally occurring and contain preservatives or highly manufactured foods such as the majority of the snack industry foods such as potato chips, cookies, artificial sugar cereals, and foods with long shelf lives.Avoid inflammatory foods such as those containing sugar, dairy, and gluten, which cause intestinal inflammation and affecting your gut microbiome. Add fermented foods into your diets such as sauerkraut, pickles ( with live cultures), yogurt, kimchi, and kombuchaWash your genital and anal areas with water only and stay away from harsh soaps in this delicate area. Soaps can not only throw off your microbiome, but they can strip your delicate skin of protective oils. Consider taking a probiotic. Not all probiotics are made equally. Look for medical-grade supplements and discuss with your doctors which probiotics are best for you and your condition. Blindly taking probiotics can worsen a dysbiotic state inadvertently. Just like each bacteria in your body has a job, you need to take the right antibiotic for the right job. Decrease stress and get more sleep. Going back to the basics for health supports your hormonal and chemical processes in your body, supporting a healthy microbiome.Increase fiber in your diet from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and seeds. Consider adding chia seeds to a smoothie. Foods high in insoluble fiber are great nutrition sources for your beneficial bacterial. Make sure you are balancing your fiber intake with adequate water consumption. Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated, also a cause of stress and dysbiosis. Drink enough fluids daily to keep your urine clear.
Remember, the secret to a healthy life is a healthy microbiome. Support your body by feeding the beneficial worker bacteria that keeps you in balance.
