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# 10 How your gut health could be linked to autoimmune conditions
32 Plays14 days ago
The Bean Talk - Episode 10: How your gut health could be linked to autoimmune conditions
This week, Rhiannon and Jeremy give a quick warehouse update and dive into the importance of gut health, especially its connection to autoimmune conditions. Jeremy shares his personal experience with a gut health protocol and stool testing, while Rhiannon explains the “weed, seed, and feed” approach to restoring balance.
Learn about the gut’s impact on immunity, signs to look out for, and simple dietary shifts that can support a healthier gut. If you’re curious about improving your own gut health, this episode is full of natural tips to get you started.
Connect with us on Instagram at @mungbean_health, or visit mungbeanhealth.com for more support.
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Transcript
Introduction and Business Growth
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to The Bean Talk with me, Rhiannon, your fertility fairy godmother, joined by my trusted partner in life and in the mission of Mung Bean Health,
00:00:23
Speaker
Hi guys, welcome back to our podcast. Rhiannon here, your fertility fairy godmother, and my trusty sidekick. Jeremy, operations manager. The big buyer, the one that deals with all of the things. Wow. Has it not been hectic in the warehouse lately? It has been quite busy. We've seen some great growth and yeah a lot more orders coming through and we're managing to get on top of them. We've hired a couple more new warehouse gals. so
Balancing Work and Family Life
00:00:54
Speaker
although we were
00:00:55
Speaker
Look, we were very fast with our orders originally. And we always have been, we still get complimented on it. However, sometimes there's human error with the suppliers sending us the wrong size or whatever it might be. Things happen sometimes. We have been also growing. Now we've got our beautiful Sandy on and she's working full-time now. So she's taking on all of the beautiful clients and yeah, we've got all those extra orders. So we have hired, we've got two new beautiful warehouse girls.
00:01:24
Speaker
one's already been working with us for a month or so. yeah And we've got another one starting this week or next week, next week, which is super exciting because we definitely need it. Cause you know, we are, we're still a small business. Like Jeremy and I are in the warehouse pretty much every day. I think there's, I'm not in there on Wednesdays, but every other day we're in there. And if we've got the kids, we take them in with us. That's hard. Yeah. it's challenge It's bloody hard to get those kids in there and try and keep them entertained while we're still working. Also, mind you, I'm still meant to be on maternity leave that I was meant to take. That's all right. It is what it is. It's the choices and the sacrifices we make. Some of the things I
Supply Delays and Gut Health Regime
00:02:09
Speaker
definitely didn't think of before we got into our own business. Jeremy had his own business before. We had mung beans.
00:02:16
Speaker
But that obviously wouldn't have mattered with a maternity leave side of things. But for me, it's not something I thought about. You think, oh yeah, I'm going to do my own thing. I'm going to have all this spare time. Which isn't true. There's so much stuff that goes on in the background that needs to be done. I know. It has to get done. And if no one else does it, guess who gets to do it? Later. You. Please do. It's still there later. It's waiting for us. It's just an extra job. Add it to the list. I always say add it up.
00:02:45
Speaker
My list is just ridiculously long. Anyway, that's a little catch-up. We're gonna try and do a bit of a catch-up in each of our podcasts each week when we do them, just to let you know how things are running. Maybe we should name it. Should we call it? Like, I don't know. A mung bean catch-up. A mung bean catch-up called the bean chat. I don't know. We'll come back to that. Anyway, how you been going? Cause Jeremy's been like holding the fort in the warehouse. If no one else can get in there, it's all pretty much on him. How you been going over there? Yeah, good. I feel like we're getting on top of it.
00:03:15
Speaker
Yeah. Just delays with wholesalers I find. Oh yes. Some
Autoimmune Conditions and Gut Microbiome
00:03:20
Speaker
big changes with our suppliers trying to order more and more each time because we've got all these beautiful clients that need their supplements. And sometimes they'll be like, Oh, we're out of stock or new batch, you know, new batch being made reformulating you reformulating make get better and improve it, which is always exciting and amazing when they do that. But then there's delays and get the lap over. It's always still five weeks out. I know. stock ands like those stocks getting low and Sometimes that can be challenging to keep on top of, but I feel like we're managing it and um talking more with the reps to see what we can do alternatively. Yeah, we can order more or get a bit of priority happening there. And on the subject of supplements, I'm on a new supplement regime to try and sort out my gut. I got some testing done. Yes, Jeremy did his stool test like a good boy. yeah
00:04:09
Speaker
And we, it came back with blasto, yeah which is very common actually to come back, but we don't want there to be an overgrowth of blasto. So there's lots we can do to eradicate. Yep. So we're doing like a gut protocol. You would say, thirty s what's the protocol again? Oh, you mean like the weed seed feed? Yeah. Yes. Not just like a basic weed seed and feed, but we're going a bit more in depth for germ.
00:04:33
Speaker
And we also have our own little protocols among bean health that we, yeah, specifically get our clients on depending what those tests come back as. So Jeremy's on a very tasty herbal at the moment. Yep. Quite enjoying that one every night.
00:04:47
Speaker
Am I meant to be doing it twice? You are, but let's face it. i know Once a day is good enough. Yeah, it can be a bit harsh sometimes doing the weed and feed, right? Yeah, it definitely can. That's why we're starting a bit more gentle because Jeremy's still going to be at work with the kids, whatever it might be. He doesn't have time to just be sitting on the toilet. But I guess one of the symptoms or signs that you got just in general, gut health,
00:05:12
Speaker
is some mucus in the stool which is look talking about poo for naturopaths it's something that is normal for us and for you because we talk about poo all the time but i feel like outside of that people like oh my gosh yeah they're gonna ask me about my poo i'm so embarrassed it's like everyone poos and it also is a great snapshot of what's going on in our health. So germ had some mucus in his poop and that's not good. That means there's a lot of inflammation present. So it was like, okay, it's time to do a stool test and see what's going on there. And now we're just working on those issues, which there's a strong link there between
00:05:48
Speaker
really poor gut health for a prolonged period of time and how that can be linked with autoimmune conditions, which is what I always think of. I'm always thinking like worst case scenario of where we don't want to be and then bringing you back from there. yeah So autoimmune conditions or autoimmune diseases are very common.
00:06:09
Speaker
in this day and age. We have a lot of people that come to us that have already had diagnosed conditions and sometimes people just have really bad gut health that we want to essentially draw a line in the sand and stop it from becoming anything worse. So autoimmune conditions are when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells or tissues or organs. Normally the immune system defends the body against like harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses and that sort of thing.
00:06:38
Speaker
However, in autoimmune conditions, the immune system fails to distinguish foreign invaders and the body's own cells. So it can't differentiate between the two, which is just crazy. And this leads to an inappropriate immune response.
00:06:53
Speaker
Yeah, so not good. So essentially the immune system can then be attacking the healthy tissue. So we see this a lot in thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's and Graves where the immune system is mistaking the healthy thyroid tissue for an invader and that actually starts to attack it. Not what you want. No, it's not what you want, no way. No.
00:07:16
Speaker
We see it a lot with that thyroid, the gut health, metabolic health and musculoskeletal in clinic. So a lot of the, have you heard of any other autoimmune conditions? Have you heard about it? Not that much, probably just thyroid. A lot of people go undiagnosed for a long time and then it's not until everything starts to fall apart that then they go and investigate and look into it a bit further.
00:07:39
Speaker
Different conventional treatments with GP or the hospital usually focuses on managing the symptoms that are from the autoimmune, like reducing inflammation, using different types of medications like corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, that sort of thing. Not only can the gut obviously influence it, but there's a lot of different causes. Genetic health, so family history of autoimmune diseases can increase the risk of developing one.
00:08:06
Speaker
So if your mum had one or your grandma had one, I especially see that with the thyroid, then you possibly could get one. So we want to make sure we're avoiding that. Environmental triggers, so things like infections, certain medications, or exposure to different types of chemicals can trigger autoimmune reactions and genetically predispose individuals. So anyone who is predisposed can pull the trigger. So they say in the health world where we're predisposed is like the loaded gun but then a lot of the choices we make can pull the trigger on these conditions. Other things like women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions believe it or not more common than men
00:08:49
Speaker
I actually think a big role around that is around us having babies and how, this is my own theory, is how our thyroid is so overworked in pregnancy and postpartum and a lot of people don't care for themselves through pregnancy and postpartum like they should.
00:09:04
Speaker
This is just around the education that they have. We don't have a lot of education to put a lot of love and support into that area. Obviously, among being we're trying to change that picture, but I know in ah the conventional medicine world, there's not a lot of that care. So I think that plays a bit of a role there. Other hormonal factors as well, different types of hormonal changes. Again, in women, so not only for the thyroid, but also for hormonal front.
00:09:31
Speaker
they can play a role in that development of autoimmune conditions. So let's link it back to the gut. Okay, let's talk a bit more about that gut and that microbiome and the development of these autoimmune conditions. And what can we do for that? Exactly, what can we do for that? Because there's a lot we can do to influence that gut microbiome. Changing the microbiome structure impairs important functions such as gut permeability, leading to the leakage or leaky gut you've probably heard of antigens and inflammatory mediators to the blood circulation, the inability to produce anti-inflammatory microbial metabolites or to degrade food, and the loss of immune homeostasis leading to allergy and autoimmune reactions. So three points in there. I'm just going to say that again for everybody.
00:10:22
Speaker
just to make it a little bit easier for you to understand because there's three points in there. So changing that gut microbiome structure can impair important functions such as one, gut permeability leading to leakage of antigens and inflammatory mediators to the blood circulation or into the bloodstream. Two, inability to produce anti-inflammatory microbial metabolites or to degrade foods.
00:10:48
Speaker
And three is loss of immune homeostasis leading to allergy and autoimmune reactions. So a
Testing Gut Health and Protocols
00:10:57
Speaker
lot that gut can do. Gut microbiome helps to train the immune system to distinguish between those harmful pathogens and the body's own cells, promoting that immune tolerance there. So what we were talking about before, how your body can get confused and essentially attack that healthy thyroid tissue or healthy other tissues in the body and lead to that autoimmune reaction. A healthy and diverse gut microbiome can reduce the likelihood of the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's tissues, which is my number one when I hear we've got a lot of like gut stuff going on or there's a lot of immune issues or autoimmune issues in the family.
00:11:39
Speaker
Certain gut bacteria can produce metabolites such as short chain fatty acids that can modulate immune responses, reducing inflammation and maintaining a balanced immune function.
00:11:51
Speaker
So really important we've got beautiful gut microbiome. Also, intestinal permeability, so that leaky gut that you hear of a lot in the health world, allows undigested food particles, toxins, and microbes to pass into the bloodstream. This can trigger an immune response and potentially contribute to developing an autoimmune disease.
00:12:12
Speaker
So dysbiosis induced by leaky gut. So dysbiosis is all of those negative gut reactions like bloating, constipation, loose stool, flatulence, pain in the gut, that sort of thing. So dysbiosis induced by leaky gut presents an inflammatory environment that paves the way to autoimmunity. So it's all about that sort of starting picture. We want to make sure that we are pro-inflammatory and stopping all of that inflammation that's present. Yeah, so the inflammation in the gut is a response to try and stop the pathogens and the bacteria making its way into the bloodstream. Yes, that's in a leaky gut picture. Okay, yeah. Whereas the leaky gut, it's affecting the permeability and the nasties are getting through and into in the bloodstream and then it's triggering that immune response, yes. she' getting inflamed yeah all and so yeah And then it can lead to many other conditions, like things like Hashimoto's or other autoimmune conditions. yeah And they're quite common side effects of
00:13:14
Speaker
leaky gut, right? The wound, the flatulence, discomfort and pain. yeah Yeah. And that's all dysbiosis, which goes into the one. That's why it's super important to do the testing, I feel. That's why the stool test for you that you did was really paramount in supporting. We'll talk a bit more about that shortly, but really doing that testing is number one. So we can see what's going on because there's so many bugs. There's so many bacterias. There's parasites, worms, good bacterias, bad bacterias.
00:13:43
Speaker
so many. And you just want to really narrow it down and know what you're dealing with. Yes, because we might be treating one bacteria thinking it sounds like that, but it's another bacteria. So really it is important to do that testing. So yes, dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome where harmful bacteria outnumber the beneficial ones. So there's nasty guys, there's more of them than the good guys.
00:14:06
Speaker
Dysbiosis can trigger trigger chronic chronic inflammation and has been associated with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, it's a very common one, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. That's a bad one, that sucks. Yeah, but there's heaps we can do for it, but you'll be in a lot of pain with those.
00:14:26
Speaker
but yeah, heaps we can do there. Factors such as antibiotic use, like excessive antibiotic use, poor diet, chronic stress, and infections can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, potentially leading to dysbiosis and increased risk of autoimmune. Multiple studies report significant shifts in the gut microbiome, including bacteria viruses and fungi,
00:14:52
Speaker
There was one study that reported that T1D patients show enrichment in pro bacteria, all different types of bacteria that are nasty, oh yes, and a lack of the butyrate producing bacteria. So the prevalence of autoimmune diseases and allergies, especially in children, increased 40% over the last decade, resulting from the change in lifestyles such as diet, stress,
00:15:19
Speaker
and pollutions, um, these changes result in a significant shift in gut microbiome composition. 40% is huge. massive So really important that we're supporting the gut, not only in us as adults, but also our children. So there's a lot of ways that we can support it.
00:15:36
Speaker
ah that So not only what we've already mentioned, but the testing obviously, yeah number one. Tell us about the test. How was the test for you to do? It was easy. It's not something you're used to, but it's very easy instruction. You just get a little test kit, put your gloves on, you go to the bathroom, you collect a sample of it, and then you just scoop a little bit in the little test tube and then you just seal it off and yeah.
00:16:00
Speaker
And like as gross as it is to talk about with the stool, you want to get different parts of the stool. So if you've got bits of mucus in there, if there's any blood in there, if there's like some that's really soft and some that's hard, you want to try and take a little sample from each bit.
00:16:15
Speaker
because each of them will present differently with the bacteria profile. So try and scoop out, especially if you're doing your child one, you want to scoop out little bits of each part of the stool. If it's all the same, it doesn't really make a difference. But if there are like differences when you're seeing it, because then they can test more, which is great. And essentially you're catching the poop. So if it's for your child, an easy thing to do is get an old container that you're going to chuck away.
00:16:40
Speaker
and just pop that in the toilet and let them go as normal. And then that's really the easiest way to catch it. It comes with a little container. It does, but it's just quite small, yeah the little one they come with. And if it's for your child and you're trying to catch their poop, or if you've got a little potty, get them to go in the potty and then you can just scoop it out of there and then wash that out.
00:16:58
Speaker
whatever works and whatever's easiest. I have lots of moms and children that do them together. And they'll be like, they'll do their poo test together. And the kids absolutely love it. a little science project Yeah, it is get your gloves on. And yeah, so funny. And look, you don't have to touch it. You just scoop out of it, essentially. But it tells us so much. I always have people saying, Oh my gosh, there's so much to that test. Then we do our gut protocol, which is Jeremy's favourite part. The seed, weed and feed. Yeah. It's meant to be the other way around. Yeah, I'm like, is that weed, seed and then feed. We want to weed it out.
00:17:37
Speaker
reseed it and then feed the seed. Then diet protocols. So we want to really be focusing on anti-inflammatory foods, antibacterial foods, no process, reducing dairy, gluten, anything that's really triggering for people with a sensitive tummy. um You want to be reducing, which another thing I actually saw with Jeremy is a bit more of a sensitivity to gluten. Normally he's okay. If he eats like a bowl of pasta or something, he'll have a bit more of an upset tummy, but it's, I feel like that's getting worse. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like the perfect time for us to be doing this and getting on top of it. And then doing, after we've done that, checking and doing like a retest to see where the bacteria is at, which probably another six weeks or so, we'll then.
00:18:26
Speaker
We're only in stage one at the moment of the gut protocol, but in a little while we'll definitely retest and see what's going on. but We also want to work on that immune regulation. So important. So unlike many pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, which are also immunosuppressive drugs, SPMs, which I don't know if you know of SPMs, but they're actually in fish oil and they work on that pain pain mediation. They're very good. But you want to get some, you can't just take fissure and have enough SPMs. You want to get fissure with SPMs or s SPMs on their own. Not that I ever recommend to self-prescribe. I don't think you'd, yeah, it'd be hard to get anyway, but never self-prescribe this stuff. But
Gut Health and Mental Well-being
00:19:09
Speaker
SPMs reduce inflammation and promote the resolution in the gut without the immunosuppressant side of things. So the SPM stimulate macrophagy.
00:19:18
Speaker
development, bacterial clearance, and protect against issues with cytokines storms, which can affect many things in the immune system. It's yeah, not what you want to be having. They have also been shown to improve antibiotic effectiveness and survival in several animal models of infection. Wow. Very interesting. yeah The s SPMs work so well in that area, but it's all about immune regulation. So supporting that immune system as best as we can. And yeah.
00:19:48
Speaker
improve your gut health and feel better. Yeah, I know. It's so uncomfortable when you're not feeling good in the gut. Yeah. And what do they say about the guts of second brain? Yeah. A lot of our happy hormone serotonin is produced in there. So it makes sense when your guts off, not only do you feel uncomfortable and you don't really want to do anything, you're uncomfortable, what you're going to eat, are you going to be in pain, where I'm going to go? Is there like a toilet there? If you're feeling really awful, have diarrhea or anything like that.
00:20:16
Speaker
So that then affects your mental health, but also because your happy hormone serotonin is produced in the gut, if you don't have that happening, then you're really not going to be happy. but Plus the immune system, 70% of that immune system is in the gut as well. There's so much going on there.
00:20:33
Speaker
Get it checked. I know. So
Reaching Out for Gut Health Support
00:20:35
Speaker
if you need help or support with your gut or any of this resonates with your gut health or you've got autoimmune conditions in the family, it might be an idea to get some testing done. Definitely recommend. We're here to help. Book, book him with us. Yeah, BookMeanHealth.com. Yes. Or you can reach out on Instagram as well. You can DM us if you've got any questions. We're just mungbean underscore help. And we can't wait to help you. Have a good day.
00:21:07
Speaker
And that's a wrap on today's dose of wellness. I'm Rhiannon, your fertility fairy godmother. Thank you for joining us. Stay connected with us on Instagram at mungbin underscore health.