Butyrate & your health

Butyric acid is one of four key saturated short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs.

It's formed in our colon via the bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates like dietary fibre. It helps with the integrity of our gut (endothelial) lining.

So often my clients are low in this, which can indicate intestinal permeability (leaky gut), infections, low fibre intake and more.

More specifically, butyric acid promotes the health and healing of cells in our small and large intestine, including by acting as their favourite fuel.

Healthy gut cells means an in-tact gut barrier, which reduces sensitivities and allergies, and improves absorption and immunity.

This short-chain fatty acid also supports weight loss, potentially fights cancer, improves Crohn’s disease and IBS, is anti-inflammatory, and may help insulin resistance.

But if our gut bacteria are insufficient or imbalanced, we can also get it from eating butter, ghee, true raw milk (not cold pressed), parmesan cheese, animal fats, jerusalem artichoke, unripe bananas, kombucha, dandelion greens and jicama (a central American tuber).

The Microbiome Mapping I offer includes levels of short chain fatty acids, along with information about infections, healthy and adverse bacterial/ parasitic/ fungal levels, fat digestion, gut immunity, detoxification, gluten handling levels and more.