The next generation of gut health

Gut health has long been associated with probiotics and prebiotics, but a new dimension — tribiotics — is rapidly gaining attention for its unique benefits. Tribiotics offer a comprehensive approach to fostering a balanced gut microbiome, supporting immunity and promoting mental and metabolic health.

Gut health is a topic that’s rapidly gaining traction for its profound impact on overall wellness, yet understanding the right approach to nurture your gut microbiome can be overwhelming. Traditionally, probiotics and prebiotics have led the way, but now a new term — postbiotics — is reshaping how we think about maintaining a balanced microbiome. This unique combination of pre-, pro- and postbiotics, coined as “tribiotics”, offers a revolutionary approach to gut health.

Dr. Ross Walker, a world-renowned preventive health expert with over 40 years of clinical experience, says “While probiotics are the beneficial bacteria and prebiotics are the nutrients they feed on, postbiotics are the natural compounds these bacteria secrete — compounds that are critical for our metabolism and immune health.”

Tribiotics may be the key to tackling gut imbalances and supporting the immune system, especially when life becomes stressful or during seasonal shifts. Gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance of gut bacteria, is more common than most realize, with Dr. Walker noting, “70 per cent of the immune system lives in the gut, and gut dysbiosis has been linked to over 90 per cent of modern diseases.”

The role of gut health in overall wellness

A healthy gut microbiome is like the body’s silent powerhouse, influencing energy, mood and metabolism. Dr. Walker explains, “When we have a balanced gut microbiome, it can efficiently create healthy chemicals like serotonin and short-chain fatty acids — vital substances that play a role in mental health, metabolism and immune resilience. Low serotonin levels, for example, are often linked to depression. A well-balanced microbiome supports optimal serotonin production.”

These short-chain fatty acids, including acetate, butyrate and pyruvate, serve a range of bodily functions and are essential for metabolic health. However, modern lifestyles can disrupt this balance, leading to symptoms like bloating, fatigue and discomfort. “It’s like turning an ocean liner around,” says Dr. Walker. “Improving gut health is not immediate; it takes time to get it moving in the right direction.”

What can we do to protect our gut health?

Theronomic Gut Shield, one of the first products to use a tribiotic approach, is designed to address gut imbalances comprehensively, offering targeted support to the microbiome for healthier digestion, immunity and even mental wellbeing.

Designed to meet the challenges of modern-day gut health, Theronomic Gut Shield offers an all-in-one solution for supporting digestion, boosting the immune system and enhancing energy levels.

Recently awarded the 2024 NutraIngredients Asia Award for Microbiome Modulation Product of the Year and the 2024 Australian Brand Award for New Product Innovation, Gut Shield harnesses the power of tribiotics, helping people achieve a balanced microbiome more effectively than probiotics alone.

“Probiotics alone can be beneficial,” Dr. Walker shares, “but they are so much more effective when they have quality fuel like prebiotics, and when they’re able to secrete healthy postbiotics. By enhancing these postbiotics, a tribiotic approach is far more powerful than probiotics on their own.”

Achieving good gut health

Whether you’re in your early twenties, 40s, 50s or entering your later years, establishing a foundation of gut health has lifelong benefits. As Dr. Walker puts it, “The earlier you start to practice healthy lifestyle principles, the better. Maintaining a balanced microbiome not only promotes mental and metabolic health but also supports immunity.”

Probiotics work so much more effectively if they have healthy food being fed into the system, such as prebiotics. Onions, garlic, yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut are excellent examples of prebiotics and should be included in your diet regularly.

Dr. Walker suggests eating two or three pieces of fruit per day and three to five servings of vegetables per day. “Sadly, only around 4 per cent of the population do this. It is also recommended to have around 30g of fibre per day to keep your gut healthy,” he explains.

With a few simple tweaks to your diet, you’re not just supporting digestion but also boosting cognitive clarity, emotional resilience, cardiovascular health and even skin vitality — benefits that enhance both wellbeing and vitality at any stage of life.

For more, visit theronomic.com