Celebrating World Microbiome Day: Everything you need to know about the microbiome

World Microbiome day on June 27th is a day where we celebrate the microorganisms that live together in communities called microbiomes. Microbiomes are found everywhere in and on plants, animals, water, soil, food and in us humans! They are super important as they influence the health of humans and of the entire planet.

In human beings our microbe interactions play a crucial role in our individual health. The microbes are external on the skin, mouth, genitals and internally in the lungs and digestive organs. In fact, in humans 99% of our microbiome is in the digestive track. This microbiome is key in supporting a healthy immune system, preventing infections and aiding digestion.

Interestingly there are interactions between the gut microbes and the brain; the vagus nerve is one of the biggest nerves connecting your gut and brain. It sends signals in both directions and this communication system is referred to as the gut/brain axis. Recent studies say what’s happening in your brain can affect your gut (think about butterflies in the tummy) and what happens in your gut may even affect your brain meaning we may be able to support mental health through changing the gut microbiome. 90% of the “happy hormone” aka serotonin is made in your GI tract and serotonin is key to regulate mood, depression and anxiety.

Your gut-brain axis is also connected through the immune system. Gut microbes play an important role in your immune system and inflammation by controlling what is passed into the body and what is excreted. Improving our gut health and balancing the microbiome will have many many benefits for the body including improved digestive health, improvement in inflammatory conditions and in cognitive function.

Diet, the environment, stress and drugs such as antibiotics can all disrupt the balance of bacteria, undermining the diversity of your gut microbiome. The gut bacteria are important as they break down food and toxins, make vitamins and interact with our immune system.

Your microbiome lives in harmony with you; take care of it, and it’ll take care of you. Although scientists are only beginning to understand the role of the microbiome, it is believed to assist in:

• The breakdown of complex carbohydrates
• Producing vitamins and minerals
• Producing short-chain fatty acids
• Defending against pathogens
• Training our immune system
• Supporting detoxification

Good diet, sleep patterns and exercise are thought to have a positive effect on the microbiome and leave us feeling happier and healthier. Other activities such as being outside and exposure to animals and dirt help balance the good and bad bacteria within your microbiome. But, nobody’s perfect. Modern lifestyles mean we can’t always do everything we’re supposed to. Live bacteria supplements can help support the gut microbiome in the context of a healthy diet & lifestyle.

What supplements help?

Here in Meaghers we are serious about science and serious about Symprove. The 12-week Symprove programme has shown incredible results for thousands of our customers. Symprove has been proven to outperform leading competitors in getting live bacteria to the gut, where they can survive, thrive and multiply.

Symprove gets more thriving bacteria to where it matters most. However, getting the good bacteria where they are needed isn’t that simple. Your digestive system is a hostile place. So, the bacteria need to arrive in your stomach in good shape, survive passage through it and thrive once they arrive in the gut. That’s where Symprove has an advantage. In an independent study at University College London, Symprove was shown to outperform seven other leading products in its ability to survive, thrive and colonise the gut.

Incorporating Symprove into your daily routine is easy and certainly doesn’t require a major lifestyle change! Just take 70ml of Symprove every morning on an empty stomach, wait 10 minutes before eating or drinking and then continue with your day.

Who can take Symprove?

Symprove is a food product and is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding ladies. It is also safe for children to take; simply alter the dose to 1ml per Kg of the child’s weight e.g., if the child weighs 30kg then the dose is 30ml a day.

Symprove is also safe to take with most prescription medicines, however we recommend to always check with your Meaghers Pharmacist or your GP.

For how long do I need to take it?

It is important to invest in Symprove and complete the 12-week programme as all the studies are based on results obtained after 12 weeks continuous use. To encourage all our customers to complete the Symprove programme, we give you the final 4 weeks free. So, you purchase 8 weeks supply from Meaghers and we send you the final 4 weeks supply for free - simply email service@meaghers.ie to order your free pack. If after the 12-week programme you wish to continue to take Symprove that is perfectly safe to do.

You can read more about Symprove here, and if you have any questions about this supplement, don't hesitate to contact any of our Meaghers Pharmacies or email help@meagherspharmacy.ie