We all have this whole ecosystem of bacteria and fungi that live within our digestive tract and the more diverse the colonies, the healthier we are. As there is a decline in the diversity in our microflora this leads to health challenges including digestive issues, lowered immune system, allergies and autoimmune disease.
Here are the NINE reasons for the decline in the diversity in our microbiome ecosystem, hence the decline in our human health:
- Due to increased number of c-sections – we get many microbes through vaginal birth canal
- Either not being breastfed or a short duration of being breastfed, as we start to build the foundation of our microbes through breastfeeding.
- Overuse of antibiotics. Children average 1 round of antibiotics per year until age 20. Antibiotics kill off all the good healthy bacteria.
- Livestock are all given antibiotics. We consume the animal meat and also get a dose of antibiotics.
- Vegetables are sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, insecticides which are designed to kill microbes therefore when we consume the trace amount of these chemicals they kill off colonies of our healthy microflora. Unfortunately it’s in our food, water and air.
- Chlorine in our drinking water kills good microbes in gut.
- Use of Hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial soaps kills good microbes.
- Environmental toxins, heavy metals, food additives and preservatives, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) disrupt your microbiome
- Poor diet – foods high in processed sugar, refined carbs, unhealthy fats encourage growth of “bad” bacterial overgrowths
This is why there is a decreased diversity in our microbiome and why we see so many health challenges.
