Exactly How Does your Gut Health Affect your Fertility?

Gut health is a buzzword for a reason. Your gut is the largest neuron containing surface area inside your body and is constantly exposed to food and bacteria from the outside world. The gut is commonly known as “your second brain”. Consisting of a network of neurotransmitters, this means the gut also has a connection with our brain, which plays a key role in mood, inflammation and of course digestion.

What is a Healthy Gut?

The definition of a healthy gut is defined as a gut that has a healthy barrier that fights infections and is capable of digestion, also it can hold onto undigested food particles, toxins and bacteria and stop them escaping into the bloodstream.

 

What is the Microbiome?

The microbiome is developed from the time we are in the womb, our gut is made up on many trillions of good and bad bacteria that aid in protecting our health. They are also important for not only gut health but immune regulation, metabolism, weight loss and your mood.   Our gut health can be disrupted, this is known as dysbiosis which can be triggered by stress, illness, obesity, and eating a poor diet.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

The gut wall naturally absorbs nutrients and minerals, but in the case of leaky gut the tight junctions have been broken. This can be from gluten, stress, illness, antacid drugs, and antibiotics. Things like undigested food particles and toxins escape into the bloodstream and the immune system attacks the ‘foreign invaders’ causing inflammation responses. Leaky gut is linked to IBS, hay fever, PCOS, and hormonal issues, mood and bad bacterial overgrowth such as candida.

 

Poor Gut Heath and Your Fertility

In a study by Tremellen and Pearce (2012), the found that dysbiosis caused by poor diet lead to an increase gut permeability. The interface of the toxins in the bloodstream being attacked by the immune system, lead to the interference of insulin levels, intern interfering with normal egg and sperm development.

Tremellen and Pearce (2012), found that leaky gut and the inflammation response was a common cause of PCOS. Insulin disruption was the most common cause of menstrual disruption and problems associated with normal ovulation.

Hormone imbalance is compromised and the downfall is infertility issues and poor quality eggs and sperm.

 

What can I do to improve my Gut Health?

• Reduce the consumption of refined sugars
• Increase water consumption (0.033xkg of BW)
• Include in your diet foods containing healthy bacteria such as natural yoghurt and kefir
• Chew meals slowly

If you are unsure if you have a leaky gut or want to know more about what you can do for gut issue, make an appointment with one of our nutritionists today.

References

Food and mood Centre, cited 21^st of May 2018. http://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/what-is-the-gut-microbiome/

Tremellen, K and Pearce, K (2012). Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota (DOGMA) – A novel theory for the development of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Med Hyspotheses’ 79, 1, 104-12.