When it comes to decision making, we’re often advised to “TRUST YOUR GUT”, of course, listening to your gut when it comes to deciding whether you should have a second piece of chocolate cake, can back fire.

But for the most part……….. gut decisions are winners.

Now……….. it is possible that making gut decisions is superior, because you’re getting a trillion or so bacteria’s input, so like the BORG – the collective wisdom trumps.

But if collective wisdom wins the day – the collective must be made up of quality.

Luckily, the cells lining the gut have got you covered. This is the conclusion of a group of researchers from Oxford University.

Gut cells are gardeners

Who winds up taking up residence in the gut – is not just a matter of chance.

Gut gardening begins early and is an ongoing process, the garden is meticulously maintained by the cells lining the gut.

The garden design

The Oxford team created a computer simulation of the gut which was designed to piece together the interactions between gut microbes and the epithelial cells lining the gut.

Now a garden is meant be a tranquil place…. containing “good” plants, such as flowers & veggies, not weeds. But WEEDS WIN when there is no gardener or the gardener takes a break.

Gut gardens work on the same principle.

Gut gardens are supposed to contain “good” bacteria, not pathogens, but “bad” bacteria can quickly take over, crowding out the “good” bacteria.

The computer model revealed that slow growing “good” bacteria, would not have much of a chance of thriving in any gut garden, without a little intervention i.e. gut gardens must have a gardener.

Fertilizing & watering the beds

Gut cells are the gardners. They put on their wellies and get their hands dirty, helping keep the gut garden in tip top shape and avoid it been over ridden by WEEDS.

Now weeding is HARD WORK and it needs to be performed CONSISTENTLY. This small little detail is why I seldom have a bed of flowers, I am very adept at growing beds of weeds. Eish !

Fortunately, the secret to a fabulous gut garden has nothing to do with WEEDING. The Oxford team did the maths, they reckon epithelial cells create productive gardens through regular fertilizing and watering the beds.

Secretions are discerning fertilizers

In real gardens ………….. fertilizers don’t discriminate between “good” plants and “bad” plants. Fertilizers can fuel your weeds

But in the gut garden, the fertilizers seem to be a whole lot more discerning. The right fertilizer grows the right bacteria.

And over time………… our gut cells have learned which fertilizers to deploy. Coded into our DNA is the recipe for a selection of growth promoting substances which are trickled out – so the gut garden is filled with “good” bacteria, naturally.

Our gut cells are innately great gardeners.

Gardens gone to the dogs

Untended gardens quickly become weed infested eye sores. Gut gardens are no different, they need tender loving care. Untamed gut gardens may sometimes create eye sores, but more often than not they create gut sores, maybe even brain sores.

You gut cells will do their best to keep the garden well maintained. But they need your help keeping your gut garden in tip top shape…..

• protect the seed (microflora), only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary,
• provide good seed (microflora), eat fermented foods and live a little dirty,
• feed your gardeners, by eating nutrient dense not calorie dense foods and
• create a tranquil environment.

HAPPY GARDENING.

Further reading

The sombrero effect shields gut cells from the ravages of  radiation therapy	Your herbal tea could include a weed or two	Could your suburban garden be eligible for carbon credits ?

Want to have a fabulous gut garden ?

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