Holistic Nutrition
Let’s develop your food intuition!
What is Holistic nutrition?
Holistic nutrition focuses on a whole-life approach to wellness. It is more than diet, it’s a way of life that all begins in the gut.
Gut Health
Most people rarely think of the microorganisms in the world and how they impact our daily lives or how important they are to our very existence. There are more microorganisms on earth than stars in our galaxy with estimates of 1 trillion different species of microbes (Gilbert, 2017). They can exist in the harshest places on earth from the depths of the ocean to highest point in our atmosphere. Some microorganisms help create food products such as yogurt, vinegar, cheese and pickles while others break down matter in soil, sewage and oil spills.
The surface of your GI tract is larger than two tennis courts with over 10,000 different microbe species. There are enough microbes on your body to wrap around the earth two and a half times. The microbiota is defined as a set of microorganisms that exist in or on a particular part of the body. The mouth, gut, skin and nether regions have their own microbiota consisting of eukaryotes, bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea (Ferranti, Erin P et al. 2014). The body’s microbiome consists of 100 trillion microbial cells compared to 10 trillion human cells, which would make us 10% human (Knight, 2016).
Your gut microbiota is sometimes called the forgotten organ because it is responsible for many different aspects of health. The microbiota controls your body’s metabolism and immune system. It has a tremendous impact on brain function, behavior, and personality.
The diversity of your gut microbiota species determines the health of the individual. There is a growing amount of research that connects mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and autism to our microbiota. There is also a growing amount of research that can directly link the gut microbiota to chronic and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel disease, chronic inflammation, celiac disease, Alzheimer’s, asthma, arthritis, colon cancer and obesity (Sonnenberg, 2016). The Standard American lifestyle and diet contributes to the lack of diversity in the gut and to the prevalence in disease and illnesses.
The ecosystem in your gut has profound impact on how you feel and who you are. Courtney’s mission is to help empower you to tune into your body and rewild your health so that you can enjoy the happy healthy life that you deserve. Together we can explore your relationship to food, understand specific cravings, food related ailments, discover new food and recipes and optimize your vitality.
Rewilding Your Health!
References:
Journal - 20 Things You Didn't Know About the Human Gut Microbiome in The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4191858/
Book - Dirt is Good, The Advantages of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System by Jack Gilbert, Ph.D. and Rob Knight, Ph.D. with Sandra Blakeslee
Book - The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-term Health by by Justin Sonnenburg and Erica Sonnenburg