The Microbiome

The gut microbiome affects our body in so many different ways. Emotion, weight, brain functioning, and food cravings. A great friend and advocate of Zen Basil Seeds, Jennifer Fisher, recently introduced us to the work of Dr. Will Cole. He explains the microbiome on his website as the following, “Your gut is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria. You have 10 times more of these bacteria in your gastrointestinal system than you have cells in your body. This highly sophisticated system is where 80% of your immune system resides. 95% of your body’s serotonin (the “feel-good” hormone), is found not in the brain but in your gut”. Dr. Will even states how he loves using Zen Basil Seeds in his keto diet. This is because organic basil seeds have double the fiber, potassium, and calcium than chia seeds. They are even lectin-free! Imagine a poorly run factory, where the workers are not doing their job and the equipment is breaking down. This is our microbiome when we don’t take care of it. The microbiome is the genetic material of all the microbes - bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses - that live on and inside the human body. These are essentially the workers and equipment in the factory. Taking care of our microbiome means our bodies factory will be running perfectly smooth on all cylinders. The best way to take care of our microbiome is by having high-fiber superfoods. This is the fuel that motivates our factory workers to perform at a high level and oils the equipment, so it never breaks down!

Good Bacteria vs. Bad Bacteria

We have a huge number of bacteria living in us. Did you know that there are more bacteria that go into your body than human cells? Your entire immune system and so much of your health is subject to the performance and the well-being of these bacteria’s. Within your microbiome there are good bacteria and bad bacteria. The bad bacteria in your body feed and thrive on sugar, saturated fat, alcohol, smoke, and anything toxic, including stress. The more the bad bacteria grow in your body, the more our system breaks down. The more the good bacteria grow, the better you feel! The good bacteria are the ones that help strengthen your immune system and protects your gut health. It is scientifically proven that your gut health manages everything in your body. From energy and strength to stress and oxygen. What do these good guys eat? Fiber! High-fiber superfoods like Zen Basil not only help the good bacteria (organic probiotics) survive and thrive, but also reproduce. World renown physician Dr. Steven Gundry calls this process, post-biotics.

 Diverse Microbiome

The word probiotic is now a popular term. There are even probiotic supplements.  We feed our own organic probiotic with fiber, so that they survive and produce more of the good bacteria within our guts. This is how you get a diverse and unique microbiome. So when you hear Shakira say fiber is everything, and how it is the most important nutrient that so many of us lack. It is because fiber is not food for you, but food for your good bacteria. These bacteria within you are individuals. They are living organisms within you that have a mind of their own. For example, the good bacteria that produce collagen are the ones that help with hair, skin, joints, and muscle strength. Autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia are associated with dysfunction in the microbiome. Obesity has also been associated with a poor combination of microbes in the gut. The less diverse our microbiome is, the more susceptible we are to these issues.

 Best Source of Fiber

The fact that 95% of Americans do not have a sufficient amount of fiber is alarming. According to published studies based on USDA, a recommended minimum of 25g of fiber is required for women, and 35g for men. One serving of Zen Basil seeds has 15g of fiber, which would help complete our fiber deficiency! However, not just any source of fiber is beneficial to our body. For example, chia seeds have lectins in it, which is an inflammatory that can be harmful to your body. This is the case with many other products that are seen as “healthy” in the food industry. There are several oils and flowers that have inflammatory ingredients in them as well. That is why we stress the importance of incorporating Zen Basil Seeds in your everyday diet. It is the best source of fiber and is lectin-free! It’s great for those on a keto diet, or pairing it with low carb foods. There are no inflammatory and no harmful ingredients. Think of Zen Basil Seeds as the premium fuel for your microbiome. This is the highest quality fiber you can have so that the factory of your microbiome is running smoothly and efficiently. 

These days, seeds and foods are being sprayed by toxins like pesticides. Those are known as microbiome disruptors. One of the main reasons why we were motivated to call our seeds Zen Basil is because Zen brings harmony and balance to our microbiome. The best way to feed our microbiome is to consume organic nutrients without any pesticides. Zen Basil seeds are not only organic and nutrient rich, but they don’t contain any pesticides, are non-inflammatory, and lectin-free. Our bodies don’t just need any kind of fiber, they need prebiotic fiber. Zen Basil Seeds have prebiotic fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, omega 3, and flavonoids. All of which are extremely more effective to our body than taking them in the supplement form. In addition, natural vitamins and minerals are much more gentle to our microbiome than those made in a lab.

If you are looking to incorporate Zen Basil Seeds more in your life, check out the recipes on our website!