Gut Health Talk Event With Saskia Knight
On January 26th 2022 at 7pm, Registered Nutritional Therapist, Saskia Knight hosted a talk at Instinct Gym & Wellbeing, Tarporley on gut health and how it affects weight loss and wellness, in partnership with Enigma Wellness and Fuel Coffeehouse + Kitchen.
Saskia Knight discussed the gut, digestion and how the health of our microbiome affects our mood, skin, immune system, hormonal health and much more.
Through diet, exercise, sleep, relaxation, and how we interact with our environment, Saskia discussed how all these factors have an impact on our gut health and as a result, our metabolic health, including diabetes, cardiovascular health and obesity.
Fuel Coffeehouse + Kitchen provided gut-friendly nibbles and tasters throughout the evening.
Gut Health and Its Effects On Metabolism, Weight, Hormones And Immunity
Our Nutritionist, Saskia Knight of Spring Green Nutrition, explains how to feel well and look after your gut health and just how important it is to overall health and wellbeing.
We are the host to an amazing population of microbes and if we take care of them they will look after us in return.
The best way to think about the gut microbiome is as an ecosystem. Everything is impacted by the happiness of your gut - from hormones, metabolism and weight, to skin health, immunity and brain function to mental wellbeing.
The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria and other microbes and as humans, we have around 2kg worth of microbes in our gut. It’s so significant that it is considered to be an endocrine organ due to the many useful substances it produces.
A Happy Gut = A Happy Host.
These microbes in our gut have a huge impact on our overall health, managing and filtering toxins and helping us digest our foods so that we absorb the maximum nutrients possible. These useful bacteria also influence our immune health by preventing bad bacteria from taking hold and teaching the immune system when and how to react.
The good and bad bacteria compete for space along the gut lining - if the good bacteria are able to grow and thrive, they provide a healthy environment in which many healthy substances are produced for the body to use such as antioxidants, vitamins and anti-inflammatory chemicals.
The gut controls over 70% of our immune system...
The immune system is probably one of the most important functions of the gut and more and more research is showing just how important gut health is to the strength of our immune system. The majority of our immune cells are located in the gut, therefore if our gut isn't healthy, it affects our ability to ward off infections.
Our suffering immunity and gut health may show up in other ways, through the health of our skin, infection or allergies. This may show up through eczema, rosacea, acne and psoriasis.
The Gut Microbiome Helps Produce ‘Happy’ Hormones...
Serotonin is produced and used largely in the gut and helps regulate our mood, hunger and sleep patterns as well as bowel movements.
Research is showing that poor gut health and a disrupted gut microbiome can cause low mood, anxiety, sleep issues as well as fatigue, brain fog and other cognitive issues. Everything is linked to the health of our gut!
Signs and symptoms of possible poor gut health (dysbiosis):
IBS-like symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating and gas
- Constipation and/or diarrhoea
- Inflammatory conditions
- Brain fog and fatigue
- Skin issues
- Autoimmune conditions
- Depression and anxiety
How Can You Improve Your Gut Health?
Saskia suggested many options to improve your gut health, from helping the good bacteria with probiotic foods and supplements, to ensuring your environment, stress levels and exercise regime are not having damaging effects.
Eating a diverse range of fibre-rich foods regularly can help produce the good bacteria which keep your gut happy, and a happy gut = happy host. In addition, we can include resistant starches in our diet which are cooked and cooled starchy carbohydrates. These can be reheated, but the process of cooling helps to activate the gut-loving nutrients!
Your lifestyle also affects the health of your gut, such as your environment, exercise and the products you use on your skin and in your home. That’s right - even Mr Muscle might affect the health of your gut...
Living a healthy and calm lifestyle means that your digestive system and metabolism can work effectively which positively impacts our brain health .
Exercise aids gut mobility but also increases the types of good bacteria living in the gut. You can incorporate a range of workouts and intensities into your routine, but it is important not to overdo it because this can cause inflammation and stress in the gut.
Fuel Coffeehouse + Kitchen prepared some gut friendly foods and smoothies during our Gut Health talk, including some resistant starch, in the form of Tabbouleh Salad. From sauerkraut to kefir smoothies and sourdough bread, we tried a whole range of gut friendly food.
Which Foods Are Good For Your Gut?
- Kefir (water/milk/coconut)
- Kimchi
- Walnuts
- Pomegranate seeds
- Berries
- Wholegrains
- Oats
- Almonds
- Healthy fats, avocado and fish
How Nutritional Therapy Can Help...
To find the cause of gut problems, Saskia looks at your overall health history: any illnesses or past infections which could still be having an impact. As well as a food diary analysis and a look at previous restrictive diets which could have imbalanced the performance of the gut.
Microbiome tests can be done to identify exactly what might be going on in your gut, and Saskia can help to analyse and decode these results. Saskia will then help to create a nutritional plan with you.
If you would like to book a nutritional consultation with Saskia, email saskia@springgreeennutrition.co.uk .
Saskia Knight, Spring Green Nutrition
Saskia offers personalised nutritional therapy for clients looking for a deeper understanding of their health.
Saskia has worked in healthcare for over 8 years, on the National Diabetes Prevention Programme as a diabetes educator; Physical Health Lead on the Be Well service in Manchester and more recently, with the gut health company Chuckling Goat, on their microbiome testing programme.
Saskia’s particular area of interest is the gut microbiome and how it affects metabolic health – diabetes, cardiovascular health and obesity, however, she supports clients in many areas of nutrition including:
- Digestion and gut health
- Fatigue and post-viral malaise
- Thyroid and adrenal health
- Autoimmune conditions
- Weight management
- Type 2 and gestational diabetes
- Fatty liver (NAFLD)
- Blood lipid dysregulation
- PCOS
Saskia’s approach to health is based on functional medicine, the idea that the body functions and responds in a unique way depending on numerous internal and external factors, therefore, Saskia believes nutrition should be personalised and tailored to the individual.
Saskia works with clients to develop a nutritional and lifestyle plan that supports physical health and mental wellbeing but is also sustainable and enjoyable!
