By Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD, CCN
Scientific Director, Essential Formulas
Original Post Date:
July 31, 2022
The most common nutritional deficiency in America, and increasingly worldwide, is the malnourished microbiome. If the microbiome is not well nourished, pathogens are allowed to grow. We all harbor some pathogens, but they are not harmful when they only exist in small numbers. When pathogens proliferate, they can cause a wide range of symptoms such as gas, bloating, intestinal irritation, pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation. Collectively, these symptoms are referred to as dysbiosis, which is also known as intestinal permeability.
It all begins in the gut.
A recent survey published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology reported that approximately two-thirds of Americans regularly suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms.ii
However, the health problems associated with dysbiosis, and intestinal damage are not limited to the intestinal tract. Damage to the intestinal lining increases the risk of developing a wide range of more severe diseases. Excluding diseases related to congenital genetic disabilities, it is not an exaggeration to state that most age-related health problems are associated with a dysfunctional gut microbiome and damage to the intestinal barrier.
The Cause of Microbiome Malnutrition
Microbiome malnutrition occurs when people do not eat the types of food that probiotic bacteria require. There are two classes of compounds that are the primary food for probiotic bacteria: dietary fibers and polyphenols. However, studies report that 90-95% of American children and adults DO NOT consume the recommended daily amount of dietary fiber.iii,iv Other studies report that most Americans do not consume adequate fruits and vegetables, which are the primary source of polyphenols.v
The studies cited above reveal that most Americans DO NOT consume a diet that supports the maintenance of a healthy microbiome. Poor diets, specifically the over-consumption of processed foods and minimal consumption of fresh plant-based foods, are primary issues responsible for Americans’ poor health. In the United States, and increasingly in other countries, we are witnessing an epidemic of epidemics. We have an epidemic of cancer, heart disease, obesity, autoimmune disorders, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD, to name a few.vi
Quantity vs. Diversity
Many people mistakenly think that taking high-dose probiotics will create or support a healthy microbiome. Balance and diversity are critically important for a healthy microbiome. In most ecosystems, ranging from the Amazon rainforest to your gut microbiome, greater diversity equates to more excellent health, strength, and resilience. High-dose probiotics work AGAINST microbiome balance and variety. Taking high-dose probiotics is NOT the best method to correct intestinal problems and achieve microbiome diversity.
Postbiotic Metabolites
Until recently, we didn’t understand how probiotic bacteria provide health benefits. That mystery is starting to be solved, and the answer is POSTBIOTIC METABOLITES. When probiotic bacteria are supplied with dietary fibers and polyphenols, they ferment these compounds in the colon, which results in the production of compounds known as postbiotic metabolites.
Postbiotic metabolites are increasingly being understood as critical health-regulating compounds in the body. If people do not consume a plant-based diet that supplies adequate dietary fibers and polyphenols, their microbiome and health will suffer. In a book titled The Mind-Gut Connection, author Emeran Mayer, MD, stated that your probiotic bacteria are probably capable of producing hundreds of thousands of postbiotic metabolites.viiBut these health-regulating metabolites can only be produced if an individual consumes a wide range of plant-based foods.
Diversity, Diversity, Diversity
As mentioned earlier, greater diversity makes ecosystems healthier, stronger, and more resilient. The ONLY way to achieve greater diversity in your microbiome is to consume a greater diversity of plant-based foods. This will supply the dietary fibers & polyphenols that probiotic bacteria require, which will support the growth and proliferation of a more diverse range of probiotic bacteria.
When a more diverse population of probiotic bacteria can thrive, they will produce a more diverse range of postbiotic metabolites, increasing your microbiome’s strength and resilience and improving your overall health.
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics
Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics are produced in a multi-year fermentation production process that creates over 500 postbiotic metabolites. Thus, taking Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics provides a diverse range of postbiotic metabolites, which is highly effective in helping to develop or maintain a healthy microbiome. Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is the leading product globally for the direct delivery of postbiotic metabolites directly into the human gastrointestinal tract.
Don’t be a Victim of Microbiome Malnutrition.
Make sure your daily diet contains a wide range of fresh, organically grown plant-based foods, which are required to support the growth of your innate population of probiotic bacteria. But, since most people do not consume a diverse range of plant-based foods every day, we recommend taking Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics daily. The postbiotic metabolites in Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics will help maintain a healthy microbiome ecosystem, which will promote better digestion, improved nutrient absorption, a more robust immune system, and better overall health.
i Fasano A. All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases. F1000Res. 2020 Jan 31;9. https://f1000research.com/articles/9-69/v1
ii Almario CV, et al. Burden of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey of Over 71,000 Americans. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov;113(11):1701-1710.
iii Quagliani D. Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap. Am J Lifestyle Med. July 2016. (10)
iv Clemens R. Filling America’s fiber intake gap: summary of a roundtable to probe realistic solutions focusing on grain-based foods. Journal of Nutrition, July 2012.
v Huang Q. Dietary Polyphenol Intake in US Adults and 10-Year Trends: 2007-2016. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2020 Nov;120(11):1821-1833.
vi Fasano A. All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases. F1000Res. 2020 Jan 31;9. https://f1000research.com/articles/9-69/v1
vii Mayer E. The Mind-Gut Connection. New York. HarperCollins Publishers, 2016.
