Today, it is generally understood that the gut and the brain are interconnected, and instinctively we seem to have a visceral understanding of the gut’s central role – just think of the commonly used phrases as “I feel it in my gut”, and “gut instinct”.
Indeed, the health of our gut (sometimes referred to as our second brain) has a huge impact on our moods, concentration, metabolism, quality of sleep and overall energy levels. Our gut microbiome consists of over 100 trillion bacteria responsible for food digestion, conversion into nutrients and waste extraction. When we have a healthy variety of these good bacteria our gut microbiome can thrive and perform optimally, leading to a stronger immune system, more energy, better sleep, stress reduction, and brain clarity.
Unfortunately for many of us, our second brain isn’t functioning nearly as well as it might and our gut and brain are not just linked in health, but in dysfunction as well. While we are each presented with our own individual gut microbiomes at birth, during our lifetime the world around us affects what kind of gut microbiome we will have – as do our food and exercise choices. There are a whole range of reasons why our gut microbiome may have become depleted, such as lack of variety in our diets, consumption of processed foods, and the overuse of antibiotics which further deplete our microbiomes.
Akkermansia is a multi-beneficial bacteria strain that is naturally found in our gastrointestinal tract. It directly interacts with the gut lining and helps regulate the mucus lining of the gut, which helps support your gut lining. In healthy people, Akkermansia accounts for up to 4% of all intestinal bacteria. With higher levels often seen in high performance athletes and lower levels found in those with illness or metabolic issues it’s become a predictor for wellbeing.
Until recently, the only way to increase levels of Akkermansia was by faecal transplant. With funding from the Mayo Clinic, Pendulum’s team of PhD scientists finally discovered a way to cultivate this anaerobic strain at quantity (in a specially constructed oxygen free lab) and designed a capsule to ensure it survives the digestive juices in tact.
Over the last few months I have been battling sugar cravings and general digestive issues so I thought I would give Pendulum’s new Akkermansia Supplement a try. Pendulum Akkermansia is in fact the only brand with Akkermansia on the market, and New Zealand is the only country in the world outside of the USA to have access to it.
4 weeks ago I began adding this supplement to my daily routine, one capsule a day with food. The first thing I noticed after just over 1 week was a reduction in my sugar cravings. Come 2pm and I’d usually be reaching for the biscuit and/or lolly jar however this urge has dissipated somewhat, and I feel a lot fuller for longer after consuming a wholesome meal at breakfast and lunch. Encouraged by this, I decided to explore other ways to look after my gut health by increasing my intake of fermented foods such as yoghurts, kimchi, kefir or kombucha – all which boost gut microbiome diversity.
After two weeks of regularly taking Pendulum Akkermansia and making these small adjustments to my diet, I realised that I was no longer feeling bloated and as though I needed a nap after eating – a feeling I had become so used to I didn’t even consider it abnormal! Simply put, I feel more comfortable in my body after consuming meals.
The flow on effect of this is my ability to think clearly and efficiently throughout the entire day. I’m no longer feeling the mid afternoon energy lull. This is great because the increased productivity leads to less stress, which leads to a better sleep! Like so many things with health and wellness, one benefit leads to another and I’ve definitely found this to be the case when it comes to prioritising the health of my gut. They don’t call it the “second brain” for nothing.
While there are multiple ways to increase the health of our gut microbiome, I’m now committed to adding Pendulum’s Akkermansia Supplement to my daily routine as a way of making sure I’m balancing the bacteria in my everyday, no matter what. It’s become very clear to me that the total body benefits – more energy, better sleep, stress reduction, and brain clarity – are not to be underestimated.
Words: Ashlee Lala
