Unlocking the Gut-Metabolism Connection: Exploring the Link between Digestive Health and Metabolic Rate

July 9, 2023

by Cathe Friedrich

Instant solutions to health problems are in big demand! That’s why people are always looking for quick fixes for health problems and for losing weight. From fad diets to intense workout routines, some people are willing to try almost anything to shed a few pounds.

But achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight requires getting back to basics – a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits. Could the key to optimal health and boosting your metabolism lie in your gut?

Your digestive system and its health help determine the efficiency with which you burn calories and convert food into usable energy. By fostering gut health, you can more easily reach your weight loss goals and improve your health as a whole.

Let’s dive deeper into the link between your gut health and metabolic rate. We’ll explore the factors that affect gut health, from your diet and lifestyle to the use of antibiotics and other medications.

The Complex Composition of Your Gut Microbiome

Your gut consists of a complicated ecosystem of microorganisms that make their home in your digestive tract. This rich ecosystem is composed of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that contribute to your digestive and metabolic health. These tiny gut citizens help digest food, make essential nutrients, and keep your immune system balanced.

Each person has a different group of microorganisms or ecosystem in their digestive system. These organisms help break down food to release nutrients and energy from it. Your body can then use the harvested energy and nutrients to keep your body running properly.

Your digestive tract, home to your gut microbiome and command central for digestive health, is one of the most complex in your entire body. This ecosystem has a major influence on how well your body processes food and consumes energy. So, it’s not surprising that they help regulate your metabolic rate.

The Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Metabolic Health

New research shows how important the gut microbiome is for metabolic control. This complex system has a major effect on how your body uses glucose and insulin, making them key for metabolic health.

According to research, certain bacterial strains could increase glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Also, an unbalanced microbiome or one that contains harmful bacteria contributes to metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. They harm health by triggering inflammation and fueling insulin resistance. This can lead to health problems including prediabetes and weight gain.

Plus, microbes in your gut can convert some of the nutrients, like plant polysaccharides, into metabolites your body can use, thereby affecting energy balance. But there’s more. The composition of your gut microbiome influences hormones that affect appetite, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity, such as CCK, GIP, PYY, and GLP-1. So, your gut plays a key role in how you break down and process the food you eat, along with impacting your appetite.

How the Gut Microbiome Affects Metabolic Rate

Gut microbes may have a direct effect on metabolic rate. According to research conducted on mice by the University of Iowa, modifications to the gut microbiome affect resting metabolic rate, the speed at which your body burns energy, leading to obesity. Researchers have also found that obese women have a lower resting metabolic rate than thin women.

To show how important the gut microbiome is for weight control, scientists point out that weight loss after bariatric surgery may partially come from the effects the surgery has on the gut microbiome.

Despite these insights, it’s unclear what populations of bacteria are ideal for supporting metabolic health. Until scientists know more, the best approach is to foster a healthy and diverse gut microbiome. Now let’s look at some ways to do that.

How to Foster and Maintain a Diverse Gut Microbiome

Eat a varied and balanced diet. Emphasize whole foods, rich in fiber, such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. These foods contain the fiber that beneficial bacteria thrive on.
Avoid processed foods: Processed foods lack fiber and can disrupt your gut microbiome. Plus, they contain sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats that can negatively affect your health.
Eat fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha. These foods contain good bacteria that can help keep your gut microbiome in balance.
Consider taking a probiotic supplement: Probiotic supplements contain live bacteria that can help improve the balance of your gut microbiome. However, it’s important to choose a high-quality supplement that contains various strains of bacteria. Talk to a healthcare professional before taking a probiotic supplement.
Reduce stress: Stress can disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome. Tap into stress management strategies such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.
Get enough sleep: Sleep plays an important role in the health of your gut microbiome. Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night.
Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use: Antibiotics are the ultimate gut microbiome disruptor, as they kill good bacteria along with the bad guys. Only use antibiotics when necessary and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Exercise regularly: Regular exercise not only benefits your heart, it also boosts blood flow to your gut and helps support gut microbiome balance.
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: Smoking and excessive drinking can disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome and contribute to various health problems.

It might sound like a tall order, but gut health is that important.

Conclusion

The connection between gut health and metabolic rate is undeniable. So, show your gut a little love by treating it kindly. Feed it the right foods, stay physically active, and manage stress.

Know that maintaining a healthy digestive system is crucial for proper digestion but also for metabolic health. With a little effort and consistency, you can optimize gut health for better health and weight control.

References:

“Microbiome – National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.” niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/microbiome/index.cfm.
Wu J, Wang K, Wang X, Pang Y, Jiang C. The role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in metabolic diseases. Protein Cell. 2021 May;12(5):360-373. doi: 10.1007/s13238-020-00814-7. Epub 2020 Dec 21. PMID: 33346905; PMCID: PMC8106557.
Dabke K, Hendrick G, Devkota S. The gut microbiome and metabolic syndrome. J Clin Invest. 2019 Oct 1;129(10):4050-4057. doi: 10.1172/JCI129194. PMID: 31573550; PMCID: PMC6763239.
“Study Links Changes in Gut Bacteria to Lower Resting Metabolic Rate and Weight Gain in Mice | Carver College of Medicine.” 2016. Uiowa.edu. 2016. medicine.uiowa.edu/content/study-links-changes-gut-bacteria-lower-resting-metabolic-rate-and-weight-gain-mice.
Martinez KB, Pierre JF, Chang EB. The Gut Microbiota: The Gateway to Improved Metabolism. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2016 Dec;45(4):601-614. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2016.07.001. PMID: 27837775; PMCID: PMC5127273.

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