Bacteria and hormones in your gut may be contributing to your weight problems

The obesity epidemic has long been attributed to a sedentary lifestyle and a high amount of energy consumption in our diets. New evidence is emerging that bacteria and hormones in the human gut play a major role in inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity. Some of our hormones regulate weight and body fat produced by fat tissue, the gut, and the pancreas. Disruptions in these hormones can lead to obesity. Chronic inflammation then becomes a problem for overweight people. The inflammation in the GI tract can move from inside the gut, and out to the rest of the body. This can then result in full body inflammation and toxins are then distributed throughout the body. Research has shown that the bacteria present in the guts of obese people are quite different from the bacteria of lean people. When obese people lose weight by following a low-calorie diet, their gut content will change to more closely resemble the bacteria of their lean counterparts. As for the GI hormones, signals that are produced by the hormones of the gut stimulate a drive to seek and consume food when energy is deficient, and to stop eating when the energy is at an optimum level. When levels of these hormones are out of balance, you may experience a sudden weight gain. There are ways to help promote a more normal GI bacteria life, and regulate GI hormones. Probiotics are live microorganisms which, in adequate amounts, have a beneficial effect on the body. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are ingredients in foods that are non-digestible but stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. The addition of prebiotics (or a combination of prebiotics and probiotics) to an obese individual’s daily diet will improve overall metabolic health of the individual. When the GI bacteria are closer resembling the bacteria in a lean individual’s gut, inflammation is greatly reduced. Providing more comfort to the individual. It is important to keep the gut healthy by taking probiotics, keeping a balanced diet, and being sure to correctly regulate the hormones that are produced by the human GI tract.