Shanthini Naidoo discovers that the key to good gut health lies in eating more lentils and pulses

Expect to hear a lot about the little organisms that make our world go round - the microbiome - in the coming months.This year, the US launched the National Microbiome Initiative, an ambitious plan to better understand the microbes that live in humans, as well as animals, our oceans, crops and soil.The study of these minuscule, age-old organisms has been allocated a budget of more than $500-million (about R716-billion) from the US government and private funders. The reason? They might hold the key to some worldwide health concerns.A dysfunctional microbiome is associated with everything from diabetes, obesity and asthma to arthritis, gum disease and cardiovascular disease.Generally, we need an "improved set of bugs", says Pretoria doctor and author Arien van der Merwe, who specialises in natural integrative medicine. She calls the gut the second brain."There are very few disease-causing microbes. This is a symbiotic system, it is beneficial to us - the hosts - and to the flora or microbiome. If the intestinal flora are healthy, the whole body will function properly," she says."They exist in the air, water, in all organisms on Earth. To identify them in all environments is a huge project. There are 100 times more flora than genes in the body and it changes from second to second, as a result of stress, food, et cetera."Microbes are everywhere. They cover every surface of our bodies, inside and out. They're on our skin, inside our noses, mouths, the whole respiratory tract, plentiful in our digestive tract, reproductive system, and so on. These microscopic life forms consist of thousands of species and outnumber our own 50trillion cells by about 10 to one."Scientists working in the field warn that we are killing off our healthy microbes."Antibiotic use for viral infections, kills of the microbiome," says Van der Merwe. "That leads to an overgrowth of candida, creating thrush, and in the worst cases, leaky gut and chronic fatigue syndrome."She says researchers hope to discover far more details about these organisms, but the early conclusion is that they thrive when their human hosts follow a simple, healthy diet and lifestyle."To restore balance is easier said than done. If you eat while angry or fearful, gobbling your food in a hurry, the gut is not relaxed. It puts indirect stress on the body."Probiotics are also encouraged, and pre-biotics. "Pre-biotics, or oligosaccharides, are food for the probiotics. We find them in artichokes, onions, garlic and bananas."Of course, we eat too much meat and yeast products, like bread, and too few fresh fruits and vegetables. The word antibiotics means 'against life'. They kill our normal flora, leaving viruses flourishing, while disturbing our inner balance and immune system health "For general health and well-being, we need the rainbow colours of food. Seasonal foods are natural with God-given timing and nutrients. Nuts, seeds and legumes are important for the gut."Pulses ... people are resistant because these foods are gassy, but the gas shows you are restoring gut flora. If you soak and then throw out the water, it reduces the gas. But beans, lentils and mielies are a balanced meal and good for gut health," Van der Merwe says.Naturally cultured products like kombucha, kefir and yogurt can help to restore and maintain healthy intestinal flora."It does not have to be what is trendy, but anything worth buying has live AB cultures in it," Van der Merwe says. "Look out for that, and stay away from sweetened and flavoured versions and health drinks, they are not helpful because of added sugar."Aloe vera, mint and ginger are also good for restoration of the flora, she adds.We also need to stop butchering the helpful little bugs by over-sanitising."As a society we have become too clean, overly conscious of hygiene. For example, forgetting that babies do require some exposure to various organisms to develop immunity, we over-sterilise their bottles and toys, thereby killing the beneficial flora, leading to candida overgrowth. Candida albicans is a normal part of our microbiome, but needs to be kept in check and in balance by our innate intestinal flora or gut microbes."Misuse of antibiotics is her bugbear. "The word antibiotics means 'against life'. They kill our normal flora, leaving viruses flourishing, while disturbing our inner balance and immune system health."You can follow Shanthini on twitter @ShantzNVisit DrArien.co.za for more and sundaytimes.co.za for a detailed method of restoring your microbiome balance...