Dr. Ashwani Garg
A well-known functional medicine doctor based in Bangalore who specialises in General Physician. He has over 6 years of experience practising medicine in various hospitals and clinics. He specialises in Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ) Treatment, Diabetes Management and more diseases and conditions.“
Understand how not to get diseased with Chronic illnesses and how to Reverse Chronic Illnesses
Before we start solving the problem, we should know the cause or trigger of the problem. In most cases, Conventional Medicine thought processes have little understanding of the root cause of chronic illness, so treatment is mostly focused on suppressing the symptoms somehow. Hit and trial methodology is adopted and as a result, patients are kept diseased throughout their lives while taking a good number of drugs.
So, let me elucidate for you all the possible root causes of chronic illnesses
- Human Genome
- Increased Gut permeability
- Poor Immune response
- Imbalance in Gut microbiome
- Environmental factors
- Inflammatory diet
- Nutritional deficiency
- Toxin Load (heavy metals, plastics, chemicals, etc)
- Stress
- Sedentary lifestyle
Most of the factors listed above are modifiable except the Human Genome. But the good news is that even the expression of Human genome can be controlled/altered based on epigenetics. In practical terms this means, if we make sure that the modifiable root causes of chronic illness are eliminated from the equation, bad genes will not manifest as disease and suffering from chronic illness can be avoided.
According to Conventional Medicine, the reason for every Chronic Illness is Genetics and we are made to believe that nothing can be done to prevent the disease or reverse the disease, instead we are put onto all sorts of medications for slowing down the disease progression. If not the root cause approach, then conventional approach is the only option we are left with. But if we work on the modifiable factors causing chronic illnesses then we can prevent the disease and also reverse the disease to become disease free. This is what we do in Functional Medicine. We work on the modifiable factors and help people become disease free.
In a sinking boat we need to plug all the holes at once but the most critical component for staying healthy is our Gut Microbiome. Each one of us is covered in microbes, with the gut housing the maximum. The microorganisms in and on our bodies weigh between two to six pounds, making them heavier than the brain. We have numerous microbiomes in our eyes, mouth, nose, skin, and if you are a female, also in the vagina. Our gut microbiome is our most important human organ. With chronic diseases on the rise, the Gut Microbiome is now the front and center in this epidemic.
- Digest your food
- Create important neurotransmitters
- Synthesize vitamins
- Produce essential nutrients
- Use food to create health-boosting byproducts like short-chain fatty acids
Gut Microbiome affects our digestion in a big way!
The microorganisms living in your Gut help you extract and synthesize many nutrients and byproducts that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to obtain from your food. These microbes:
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics and can be highly nutritious additions to your diet because they support digestive health, immunity, detoxification and overall well-being.
Kefirs are a great choice for drinks which can be easily incorporated into our daily routine. They are healthy tasty naturally carbonated soda drinks.
Water kefir is a great source of several of the best probiotic strains, including:
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus helveticus
- Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens subsp. kefiranofaciens
- Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens subsp. kefirgranum
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis
- Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris
- Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides
Below are amazing benefits of fermented foods such as kefirs:
- Boosts Gut Health
Water kefir is rich in probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help support gut health. Studies show that probiotics can have far-reaching effects on health. In fact, they may benefit everything from immunity to mental health, metabolism and disease risk.
Kefir grains that are used to make kefir water are considered one of the best dietary sources of probiotics. A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology even showed that kefir grains contain an incredibly diverse array of probiotics and may provide up to 56 distinct strains of bacteria and yeast.The digestive system works optimally and the nutrients are well assimilated when we have diverse healthy microbiota. This also increases the bio-availability of nutrition from the food to the body. The bacteria found in the colony breaks down the food that hasn’t been absorbed by the small intestine and boosts the elimination of the toxic substances.
- Modulates the Immune System
80% of our immune system is formed by the gut bacteria in the gut. To have a well modulated immune system we need to have enough healthy microbiota in our gut. Water kefir is loaded with beneficial healthy microorganisms which help us develop a healthy immune system. - Minimizes food intolerance
Poor microbiota can cause an increase in intestinal permeability that leads to inflammation. It’s very important to continuously supply the gut with healthy high active sources of probiotics. Kefir is a very useful tool to achieve this goal. The intestinal flora also affects the thickness and renewal of the intestinal mucus which in turn minimize food intolerances. Foods that are not digestible are not circulated in the blood rather degraded in the intestine by the bacteria. - Sources of vitamins and minerals
Water kefir is a well-known source of essential vitamins. It is rich in vitamins B1, B6 and B2. Additionally, the fruits that are added to the water kefir provide Vitamin C along with other important nutrients. - May Help Fight Cancer Cells
In addition to enhancing immunity, water kefir may also provide protection against the formation of cancer cells. In fact, in vitro studies show that kefir grains may help reduce the growth of colon, breast and blood cancer cells in the body. - Supports Weight Loss
Many people wonder: Can kefir help you lose weight? Low in calories but loaded with flavor and fizz, swapping sodas or other sugar-sweetened beverages for water kefir a few times per week can definitely bring big benefits when it comes to your waistline.Plus, in addition to helping cut down on unnecessary calorie consumption to maximize weight loss, kefir also supplies a hearty dose of probiotics. Multiple studies show that boosting the beneficial bacteria in your gut can impact food intake, appetite, metabolism and body weight, making it even easier to lose weight fast.
- Fermentation Can “Unlock” Your Foods’ Full Nutrient Potential
Fermentation can help to “unlock” the nutrients of foods, causing important cellular changes to occur and allowing your body to better absorb and use the nutrients. From iron, to zinc, to magnesium, fermented foods offer a valuable resource for your body to receive the nutrients it needs from the food you eat.
For Medical Consultation –
Please contact “Functional Medicine Clinic”, Ph: +91 9916374381