Fiber Digestion
If there’s one thing your gut microbiome loves, it’s fiber. While our bodies can’t digest all fibers on their own, gut bacteria love to eat them and output metabolites in return. This is the process known as fermentation. However, not every person’s microbiome has the same capacity to break down fiber. This means that some people may be missing out on the benefits of fermentation, including energy regulation and the production of SCFAs and vitamins, which are valuable to your overall health. Therefore, the better your microbiome is at digesting fiber, the healthier and more diverse your gut can be.
Butyrate
Butyrate is produced by bacteria in the colon and then used as a primary source of energy for colon cells to keep your gut healthy and functioning properly. It improves blood sugar control and increases satiety, meaning it helps limit hunger and keeps you feeling full for longer.
Propionate
Propionate also increases satiety, helps reduce fat production, and can lower cholesterol.
Acetate
Acetate feeds other beneficial gut bacteria to further promote gut health, promotes appetite regulation, improves blood flow to the colon to enhance function of the intestines, and helps promote a healthy body weight.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a crucial component of red blood cell production, making new DNA, and maintaining healthy nerve function. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a host of issues including anemia, which occurs when you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 facilitates calcium use for healthy bones and circulation, making sure that calcium levels are kept in check. Since vitamin K2 helps transport calcium, a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to calcium accumulation in blood vessels, known as arterial calcification and stiffening, which can have widespread effects on health since all your organs rely on a steady, consistent supply of blood. It’s an important aspect of skin, heart, and brain health; it helps with wound healing, blood clotting, and preventing anxiety and depression.
