Without a doubt, the new “it” topic among health fanatics is
gut health. People are now beginning to realize that much of the process that
goes along with digestion is not the responsibility of their own bodies, but
rather the function of the vast bacteria that lives inside them. With this
increased concern and understanding, some, especially those who have long
suffered from digestion problems are searching for the answers in the food they
eat, and seeking out products like kombucha and kimchi to cultivate the good
bacteria in their gut.
One of my close friends suffers from celiac disease. She is a
big foodie, but because of this she is forced to be hyperaware of sensations in
her stomach, so she has found an interest in gut health. She shared this video
with me recently and I think that it offers a really interesting (also extreme)
solution to problematic gut microbiomes. In this mini documentary, a former
NASA scientist who has suffered from copious stomach problems throughout his
life, reengineers his body’s microbiome by flushing his own bacteria and
replacing it with that of a friend’s who does not suffer from the same issues.
I have never really suffered from stomach problems—I have an
iron stomach, so while I cannot personally relate to the struggle that people
with these issues go through, watching this video did make me reflect on the process
of eating. Personally, I take for granted this component of digestion because I
am oblivious to any negative signals the bacteria in my gut is sending back to
me. Seeing this furthers what we have seen class after class this semester—the process
of eating and decisions behind it are a lot more complex than most people are
aware of.
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