intro 

The term “you are what you eat” goes further than many believe. Think about this; What if the answer to your internal complication isn't a medicine, expensive treatment, or a supplement. What if it's a diet change? We tend to neglect our gut microbiome. Yet, we should understand this complex organism which houses trillions of micro-organisms. An imbalance can lead to digestion issues, poor immunity, and even our gut’s communication to the brain! So, what else can an imbalance lead to ?...

PSA

I am not a medical professional, nor a medical student. Take from this what you will, and don't put your full trust in this, or anything online that does not come from a professional in the field! Everything talked about has been thoroughly researched by me, from reliable sources. I am just an aspiring nursing student wanting to dive deep into medical topics, and then speak on them. All sources will be posted at the bottom of this page. :) enjoy !

aging

According to a source by Mayo Clinic, poor diet and lack of exercise can potentially lead to accelerated aging! “a poor diet and lack of exercise accelerated the onset of cellular senescence and, in turn, age-related conditions in mice. Results appear today in Diabetes.” ( Forliti - Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise Accelerate Onset of Age-Related Conditions in Mice. ) So why is this? Because of this little thing called cellular senescence. These cells contribute to aging conditions. When these cells are fed a high fat, high cholesterol diet, the symptoms of deficiencies in the human heart, and in metabolic function are present. These things are signs of diabetes, which believe it or not, significantly accelerates the body’s biological aging process in the brain by 26%. Not only that, but can also damage your cellular function, skeletal muscle, and organs like pancreatic islets, and liver -diabetes-. So, yes. Your gut does more than you think.

immune

Not only that, but it also even more so impacts your immune system. Malnutrition to your microbiome leads to a large reduction in your leukocytes - white blood cells - which are your infection fighting cells! With this an imbalance to your gut bacteria disrupts your mucosal barrier. ( that is essentially your shield that lines tracts within your body ) causing low-grade chronic inflammation from high fat, high sugar, and an excessive amount of calories. This confuses your immune system by disrupting its ability to tell which is a friendly bacteria, vs an enemy bacteria!!! This also leads to resulting in a more difficult and lengthy recovery process when ill. Even mild deficiencies in the vitamins A, C, D, and E; and minerals like zinc and iron can compromise the cells growth and function. 

skin cancer

Now, would you ever believe that an unhealthy, inflamed, and unbalanced gut health can actually enhance your likley-hood of getting skin cancer!? Neither did I. This actually goes very hand- in- hand with your immune system. Like said earlier, triggering chronic inflammation, and impairing your gut for the absorption of good, protective nutrients, can leave skin cells more vulnerable to DNA mutation. As well as damaging the cells strength from protection of up-coming, cancerous cells.  These happen to be created from UV exposure. With this, up to 70% of your immune system resides in your gut ! -fun fact, your gastrointestinal tract is your body’s largest immune organ !- Therefore, when a disrupted microbiome occurs, it can fail to signal immune cells, creating a weaker immune!The low-grade chronic inflammation your body could experience degrades the skin barrier, making cells more susceptible to UV damage. With all of this, it feeds into your body’s cell mutation from a happy cell, to a cancerous one. Thus leading to an increased chance of skin cancer!

Conclusion

Once again! I am not a medical professional so don't fully take away from this. However, I hope reading this can make you more aware of the importance of a balanced diet! A balanced diet doesn't mean no crabs, no sugar, no fun. It means to eat nutrient dense food that will benefit your body, yet still be able to have all the foods you enjoy, and love. Thanks for reading ! 

:) 

Aging paragraph sources

Immune paragraph sources

Skin cancer sources