New research just out as of April 18, 2011 have classified humans into categories of bacterial ecosystems. This came as no surprise since I’ve believed for many years that we are all part of distinct or separate biochemical systems and what works for one does not mean it can work for all. You probably have heard the phrase “different strokes for different folks”. It is exciting to recognize these truths in accordance with the new research.
The explanation is one of logic. Consider this, when we are not even yet a fetus our embryo (after conception) already contains an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 genes carrying 3 billion bits of information that make up our instruction book on how we will handle our proteins for the rest of our life. That takes in all body proteins from our enzymes, bacteria (microbes), immune responses and healing abilities our body has or will ever make.
The research refers to enterotypes (bacterial system in the human gut) after collecting poop samples from around the world, which classify people into three categories of microbes. One of the three possible types of the DNA we carry around, is about 1% human and the other DNA belong to the 100,000 billion microbes (bacteria) that hang out in our gut. The estimated 100,000 billion individual bacteria lives in our intestines, making up the complex ecosystem that is the gut microbes. These bacteria help to break down food (produce their own enzymes), protect us against attacks by pathogens (80% of the immune system is in the gut), and play a vital role in health and nutrition (produce enzymes to make some amino acids, minerals and vitamins).
In a recent interview with Professor Tine Rask Licht, an expert in gut health, and the winner of the 2010 Danisco Award for her research in the field, said that recently there has been a shift towards starting to consider the gut microbes as an organ in its self.
These ecosystems are named Bacteroides known as Enterotype 1, Prevotella recognized as Enterotype 2 and Ruminococcus referred to as Enterotype 3 microbes (bacteria’s), which do produce conditions differently from each other. You might think that this might depend on where we live, what we eat, our nationalities and other variables but actually, you would be incorrect. It is what you host as defined in the beginning of your life and what your organisms entertains or invites to their lively gathering.
Enterotype 1 – Bacteroides ecosystem has high levels of gut bacteria and enjoy fermenting sugar (starch) and proteins that produce enzymes to make vitamins C, B2, B5 and H.
Enterotype 2 – Prevotella ecosystem has fewer bactoids and likes to dine on mucosa proteins from the lining of the gut. Showed higher producing numbers of B1 and folic acid-producing flora.
Enterotype 3 – Ruminococcus ecosystem happens to be the most common. They also like to dine on gut mucous proteins, but they also really enjoy sugar treats. They produce biotin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and vitamin B (12).
This new biochemical ecosystem information fits nicely into the Body or Biochemical typing I’ve taught for years. The different types recognize the bodies ability or inability to properly breakdown food and feed the bodies ecosystem (bacterial community).
Which Gut Type are you? Are you taking the correct probiotic strains for you? The proper strains are those that will feed each other and not neglect one or more of the three base strains the research mentions.