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This puts the Ack! in Akkermansia—did you know that 25% of people have low amounts of Akkermansia in their gut? And that 18% have NO detectable Akkermansia in their gut at all?! Unfortunately, this is true. Fortunately, it’s easy to boost your Akkermansia levels. Here’s why you might want to increase your Akkermansia…
First off, it’s important to know that Akkermansia muciniphila is one of the most incredibly beneficial gut bacteria, linked to everything from healthy weight to GLP-1 production to balanced blood sugar and a strengthened gut lining. Akkermansia makes up to 1-5% of the total bacteria in a healthy gut. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between strong levels of Akkermansia in the gut and metabolic health. A quick Google search shows that Akkermansia is getting a lot of positive attention in the healthcare community, with over 1,000 science publications and counting.
The “muciniphila” in the Latinate name Akkermansia muciniphila actually translates to “lover of mucin.” Mucin is a glycoprotein that regulates the thickness of the mucosal layer lining the intestines, i.e the gut lining. Akkermansia feeds on that mucin which might seem like a bad thing because we want our gut lining to be thick and strong, but nope! The fact that Akkermansia eats mucin is actually important and beneficial. The more mucin that Akkermansia eats, the more it encourages epithelial cells to make additional mucin which then strengthens the intestinal wall. They don’t call it the keystone strain for gut health for nothing!
So if you’re low in Akkermansia, or don’t have any Akkermansia at all, how do you get Akkermansia into your gut microbiome? Unfortunately, there are no foods that contain Akkermansia, so you can’t eat Akkermansia. However, to encourage the growth of Akkermansia, you can eat foods rich in polyphenols, including apples, beans, berries, grapes, flaxseed, green tea, nuts, olives, asparagus, onions, oats, etc. The polyphenols in these foods are considered prebiotics, as they benefit the good bacteria in your gut microbiome, like Akkermansia, and promote a healthy gut.
Why You Want Akkermansia in Your Gut
First off, it’s important to know that Akkermansia muciniphila is one of the most incredibly beneficial gut bacteria, linked to everything from healthy weight to GLP-1 production to balanced blood sugar and a strengthened gut lining. Akkermansia makes up to 1-5% of the total bacteria in a healthy gut. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between strong levels of Akkermansia in the gut and metabolic health. A quick Google search shows that Akkermansia is getting a lot of positive attention in the healthcare community, with over 1,000 science publications and counting.
What Does Akkermansia Do in the Gut?
The “muciniphila” in the Latinate name Akkermansia muciniphila actually translates to “lover of mucin.” Mucin is a glycoprotein that regulates the thickness of the mucosal layer lining the intestines, i.e the gut lining. Akkermansia feeds on that mucin which might seem like a bad thing because we want our gut lining to be thick and strong, but nope! The fact that Akkermansia eats mucin is actually important and beneficial. The more mucin that Akkermansia eats, the more it encourages epithelial cells to make additional mucin which then strengthens the intestinal wall. They don’t call it the keystone strain for gut health for nothing!
Can You Increase Akkermansia in Your Gut with Food?
So if you’re low in Akkermansia, or don’t have any Akkermansia at all, how do you get Akkermansia into your gut microbiome? Unfortunately, there are no foods that contain Akkermansia, so you can’t eat Akkermansia. However, to encourage the growth of Akkermansia, you can eat foods rich in polyphenols, including apples, beans, berries, grapes, flaxseed, green tea, nuts, olives, asparagus, onions, oats, etc. The polyphenols in these foods are considered prebiotics, as they benefit the good bacteria in your gut microbiome, like Akkermansia, and promote a healthy gut.
Can You Increase Akkermansia in Your Gut with a Probiotic?
Admittedly, it’s difficult to find Akkermansia as a probiotic because it's what’s called an anaerobic strain, meaning it needs to be grown in an oxygen-free environment (like your gut). This makes Akkermansia unique, and difficult to manufacture. Here at Pendulum, our team of microbiologists rose to the challenge and built their own oxygen-free manufacturing facility to grow large amounts of Akkermansia. It’s because of this cutting-edge science that this next generation beneficial strain is now available in a daily live probiotic. Just one a day ensures you get all the benefits of Akkermansia. Even better? You can bundle your Akkermansia probiotic with a Polyphenol Booster. Extracted from pomegranate, grape seed, and green tea, this booster maximizes the power of your probiotics while supporting cardio health and healthy aging.
So there you have it—how to boost Akkermansia in your gut. It’s easy, and it’s only available through Pendulum.