Did you know that your gut microbiome actually weighs more than your brain? Stop and think about that for a moment and we promise you’ll be mind-blown! That’s right, lurking within your gut is a combination of literally trillions of good bacteria, fungi and viruses making up your microbiome. And it’s super incredibly important to your overall health – so ditch any squeamishness! 

Hidden from sight, and hidden from our scientific knowledge for a very long time, we’ve underestimated the power of this organ-like population inside us. We need it, and we need to look after and nurture it, to ensure a healthy immune system, take care of our heart-health, and even manage our weight. 

We need to learn not to neglect our microbiome as our gut health is of paramount importance to our overall health. And the way to support it is through the right foods, such as coconut vinegar and other fermented foods.

What is the gut microbiome?

Trillions of microbes call your microbiome home. They’re the friendly bacteria and they largely take up residence in your large intestine, specifically in a spot called the cecum. There are lots of different microbes here, but, so far, science has learned most about the bacteria.

If you’d like your mind to be blown more, in terms of how domineeringly important these bacteria are: you have considerably more bacterial cells in your body than you have human cells. Wow. And they aren’t all the same; there are literally hundreds of different species of bacteria.

What role does your gut microbiome play?

Fundamentally, we’ve evolved to need and rely on these microbes in our gut. From before we are born, and certainly from birth onwards, our gut microbiome grows. But, unsurprisingly, what we eat (and how we eat), and how we live, can affect the microbiome and how it develops and is sustained. Ultimately, what we want is a very diverse collection of microbes.

The gut microbiome is critically important to your immune system. It’s basically the powerhouse behind how your immunity works, affecting how you respond to things like infection and cancer, and cancer treatment. Remarkably, your gut health even plays a role in your brain’s function and behaviour.

Furthermore, we know that your gut microbiome has an important role to play in terms of your weight and issues associated with weight, such as diabetes and cholesterol. It’s been shown that if your balance of microbes is out of kilter (known as gut dysbiosis), then you are prone to obesity and associated diseases. Incredibly, you can eat exactly the same food as someone else, but if your gut microbiomes are different, your blood sugar levels will be considerably different too.

In terms of heart health, a study has shown that the gut microbiome is important for promoting ‘good’ cholesterol. Additionally, some bacteria, like Lactobacilli, actually help you to reduce cholesterol.

As you’d expect, given the gut’s power over your whole system, it has a particularly important role in terms of intestinal diseases and complaints. It plays a part in all sorts of gut issues from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

So, there’s no getting away from the fact that your gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in your overall health and wellbeing.

Fascinatingly, twin studies have revealed that the balance of your microbiome isn’t genetic – you are in control of it through your diet and lifestyle. 

How can you improve your gut microbiome?

Of course, with this fantastic list of health benefits, you’ll want to do everything you can to make your gut microbiome as healthy and perfectly balanced as you can. There are various different ways in which you can support a healthy gut microbiome. Our favourite 3 are:

Hit the fermented way

Fermented foods, like sauerkraut and kimchi, are bursting with good bacteria, particularly the Lactobacilli mentioned earlier.

There are multiple ways you can increase the use of fermented foods in your diet. Your secret weapon can be a Coconut Mother of Vinegar. This is fermented raw coconut sap and is 100% natural. Unlike all other companies, we ensure the Mother Gel stays in the bottle of vinegar you buy, so that you get 100% of the natural fermented goodness.

A great way to use Mother of Vinegar in your diet is to make ‘shrubs’ which are a form of concentrated drink. 

You can also use organic coconut vinegar to make pickles, such as our spicy cucumber pickle which is a fabulous way of enjoying fermented foods. We also adore a crunchy salad sprinkled with a splash of balsamic coconut vinegar, for its divine tarragon notes.

Eat a varied diet

We know that everyone harps on about a varied diet, but it’s with good reason. Sticking to the same old foods will limit the diversity of your microbiome. You need to be eating a wonderful array of foods, particularly those rich in fibre, to enable your microbiome to thrive. 

We know that adding variety to your diet can be tough. However, we’ve come up with a way that you can add fabulous flavour to everything from meat and fish to tofu, veggies and beans, whilst also getting the benefit of fermentation above.

Our coconut aminos are sauces based on organic coconut vinegar. Try out our Miso Baked Tofu and Coconut Noodle Broth using our all-purpose amino sauce. Alternatively, whip up an Asian-style stir-fry with our Teriyaki amino sauce, nudging in a kick of ginger. Or go all out American street food style with the BBQ amino sauce.

Up your pre-biotic food intake

Pre-biotic foods are all about feeding the good microbes. They facilitate a healthy microbiome by giving these microbes what they need to thrive. There are lots of different pre-biotic rich foods such as apples and bananas through to oats and asparagus. Furthermore, whole grains are rich in the fibre needed to build up your microbiome. Making sure you eat a diet bursting with plant-based foods will also help in this way.

In addition, our Coconut Mother of Vinegar is also rich in healthy pre-biotics.

It’s really incredible what your gut microbiome is and what it does. Knowing that adding in foods as simple as coconut vinegar can have a profound effect on boosting it is wonderful news.