The Importance of Gut Health & The Microbiome
Gut health is the foundation of overall well-being, influencing everything from digestion and immunity to mental health and inflammation levels. At the heart of digestive health lies the gut microbiome—a vast ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that play a critical role in nutrient absorption, immune function, and metabolic balance. However, the delicate balance of this microbial community is easily disrupted, leading to dysbiosis, digestive disorders, and systemic inflammation.
One of the most overlooked yet crucial factors in gut health is maintaining the correct acidic pH in the stomach and upper digestive tract. The stomach is designed to be highly acidic (pH 1.5–3), a state essential for proper digestion, enzyme activation, and defence against pathogens. Unfortunately, modern diets and lifestyles have contributed to a widespread loss of digestive acidity, which is the first step toward poor gut health.
Factors such as processed foods, excess sugar, vegetable oils, chronic stress, overuse of antibiotics, and acid-suppressing medications disrupt the gut's natural acidic environment, impairing digestion and leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This alkalisation of the stomach and small intestine triggers a cascade of dysfunction, including poor protein digestion, nutrient malabsorption, bloating, acid reflux, and microbial imbalances in the gut.
One of the most overlooked yet crucial factors in gut health is maintaining the correct acidic pH in the stomach and upper digestive tract. The stomach is designed to be highly acidic (pH 1.5–3), a state essential for proper digestion, enzyme activation, and defence against pathogens. Unfortunately, modern diets and lifestyles have contributed to a widespread loss of digestive acidity, which is the first step toward poor gut health.
Factors such as processed foods, excess sugar, vegetable oils, chronic stress, overuse of antibiotics, and acid-suppressing medications disrupt the gut's natural acidic environment, impairing digestion and leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This alkalisation of the stomach and small intestine triggers a cascade of dysfunction, including poor protein digestion, nutrient malabsorption, bloating, acid reflux, and microbial imbalances in the gut.
Restoring Gut Acidity: The First Step to Healing
Before addressing microbiome restoration, it is essential to correct the pH balance of the gut. Without adequate stomach acid:
· Beneficial bacteria struggle to thrive, allowing opportunistic pathogens to dominate.
· Food is not properly broken down, leading to fermentation, gas, and bloating.
· Nutrient absorption is compromised, particularly for minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium.
· Enzymes and bile function poorly, further impairing digestion and detoxification.
· Beneficial bacteria struggle to thrive, allowing opportunistic pathogens to dominate.
· Food is not properly broken down, leading to fermentation, gas, and bloating.
· Nutrient absorption is compromised, particularly for minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium.
· Enzymes and bile function poorly, further impairing digestion and detoxification.
Re-establishing the correct acidic environment is the first step in gut repair, setting the stage for microbiome restoration, reduced inflammation, and overall digestive resilience. Once this foundation is in place, targeted interventions such as herbal medicines, prebiotics, polyphenol-rich foods, and medicinal essential oils can be used to rebalance the microbiome, support mucosal healing, and restore optimal gut function.
The 90-Day 'Weed, Seed and feed' Approach: A Clear & effective Gut Reset
The gut microbiome is central to digestion, immunity, mental health, and overall well-being. However, poor diet, stress, medications, and environmental toxins can disrupt this delicate ecosystem, leading to dysbiosis (microbial imbalance), inflammation, and poor gut function. My 90-day ‘Weed, Seed, and Feed’ approach is designed to systematically restore gut health, ensuring a strong foundation for long-term well-being.
Step 1: Weed (Unhealthy gut bacteria)The first phase of the 90-day protocol targets gut dysbiosis by restoring the gut’s acidic pH and eliminating harmful microbes—pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and parasites—that thrive in poor gut conditions. By restoring levels of stomach acid, it kickstarts proper digestion and stops bacterial overgrowth in its tracks.
|
Step 2: Seed (Repopulate with Beneficial Bacteria)Once the gut is cleared of disruptors, the next step is to introduce beneficial microbes to restore balance. This includes: Introducing prebiotic-rich plants to nourish beneficial bacteria. Using targeted probiotics to repopulate the gut. Supporting mucosal healing to repair the gut lining and create a hospitable environment for good bacteria. Key Support: Plant prebiotics, resistant starches, medicinal herbs, mucilage-rich plants.
|
Step 3: Feed (Nourish & Maintain a Thriving Microbiome)The final phase of the protocol is about feeding and sustaining the thriving gut ecosystem built in the first two steps. With the gut now primed, beneficial bacteria can flourish, ensuring long-term balance and resilience. This stage introduces powerful plant medicine tailored to individual needs—whether for hormonal balance, weight loss, prostate health, rosacea, or overall vitality. By continuously nourishing the gut with targeted plant medicine the body stays in a state of optimal health, healing, and renewal.
|
My Mission
At The Lavender Practice, my mission is to create a space where you feel truly heard, valued, and supported on your journey to better health. Through personalised care, education, and natural medicine, I aim to ensure that every individual feels comfortable, empowered, and nurtured in a way that fosters lasting well-being.
My Vision
I envision a world where healthcare is rooted in knowledge, self-empowerment, and nature’s wisdom. My goal is to provide access to a system of care that encourages personal responsibility for health, introduces new perspectives, and fosters an awakening to the power of medicinal plants. By reviving the tradition of food as medicine, I aim to inspire a deeper understanding of how nature supports healing, vitality, and longevity.
SIGN UP FOR OUR UPDATE NEWSLETTER
|
Email *
|
