‘Each for equal’: diversity from the inside

I  sat down with Accredited Practising Dietitian, Lead Microba Microbiome Coach (aka gut health guru) and inspiring woman, Bianca Maree Harrington, to chat about International Women’s Day. The 2020 theme is “each for equal” and Bianca shares her thoughts below.

Each for equal

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “each for equal” and is drawn from a notion of “Collective Individualism”. What makes us unique? How do we differ from others in our thoughts, actions, behaviours and the way we interact with each other?

Interestingly, our personalities and traits are not the only way we are unique. The makeup of our gut bacteria is also unique and differs from person to person. The species of bacteria you have living in your gut microbiota  (aka the gut microbiome) depends on many factors such as where you grew up, what you eat, the types of pets you have, where you live, the people you live with and many other aspects of your life.

Your unique gut

Your unique gut bacteria play important roles in maintaining your overall health and wellbeing. They have the potential to produce beneficial substances which can reduce inflammation, protect your gut barrier, aid in digestion and regulate your appetite, blood sugar levels, immune and nervous systems.

The diversity of the gut microbiome has been linked with health, with low diversity being associated with many chronic health problems.  Diversity refers to the different types of bacteria found in the gut and how evenly they are spread.

You can increase the diversity of your gut bacteria and improve your gut health directly through the foods you consume. The best fuels for your gut are called prebiotics (the undigested parts of plants) that can be found in many high- fibre foods. Some examples of these are wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses and legumes – all of which can be easily found at your local grocery store, farmer’s market or fruit shop.

The diversity of the gut microbiome has been linked with health, with low diversity being associated with many chronic health problems. Diversity refers to the different types of bacteria found in the gut and how evenly they are spread.

Diversity is not only important for your gut microbiome, it’s also important that we embrace a diverse society and diverse workplaces. Diversity equals resilience and we can always learn from those different to ourselves.

About International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is recognised on 8 March 2020 and is an annual day of recognition. I encourage you to embrace diversity, embrace uniqueness and embrace equality this International Women’s Day. Embrace what makes you uniquely different and extend that same courtesy to others.

Explore your gut diversity

To explore your unique gut bacteria makeup, you can check out Microba Insight™ at microba.com. Gain key insights with your personalised report, delve into your suggested shopping list and access a one-on-one Microbiome Coach call with a qualified healthcare professional.