Everything You Need To Know About Gut Health
Gut health is really important; keeping your gut in good check can have a positive effect not only on your body but on your mind too.
The phrase ‘gut health‘ is discussed a lot lately, and the term seems to become more prominent as time goes on. For many, it’s one of those words that you hear a lot but isn’t actually quite sure what it means and why it matters.
In this post, you’ll learn exactly what is going on in the gut. We’ll take you through what gut health is, how it affects the entire body and how you can look after it.
What Is The Gut?
The ‘gut’ refers to your gastrointestinal tract, which is an organ system that aids with the entire process of taking in food and digesting it. It works with extracting the good nutrients and getting rid of the bad.
In this organ system are plenty of bacteria, or microbiomes, most of which are good for you. The good bacteria helps greatly with digestion as well as keeping the bad bacteria at bay. They multiply so there’s no room for bad bacteria to manifest.
What Is Gut Health And Why Is It Important?
Gut health simply refers to the equilibrium of good and bad bacteria in your stomach and intestines. Research is showing lately that gut health is actually more important than once thought.
Your gastrointestinal tract has been linked to more than just the way your body digests food.
This gut bacteria can be linked to a variety of functions in the body such as maintaining homeostasis and either fighting or promoting inflammation.
Gut bacteria have also been linked to cases of obesity. This is might be due to an unhealthy balance of bacteria, which has been thought to disrupt signals in the pituitary gland. This is the gland that controls appetite.
There is also a notion that your gut health has a huge impact on your mental health too. Researchers believe that your gut may communicate with the rest of your body, the same way your brain does.
The balance of bacteria in your gut may well affect emotions and the way your brain process these signals and information.
At its best, this bacteria can arguably aid in good mental health, immune system, fighting inflammation, and fight obesity. At it’s worst, it can do quite the opposite.
Is There A Way To Promote Good Gut Health?
There’s a lot that can affect your internal bacteria. Scientists think even the way that people are born can determine the bacteria in your gut. Environment matters too, of course.
Living in a society that is generally health and hygiene conscious may actually be less advantageous for your gut. This is because it has less of a chance to fight against germs and bad bacteria.
Exposing yourself to these things can strengthen our immunity. So, essentially, getting rough and ready in the dirt isn’t bad for your health. But, we’re not saying to go lick a toilet seat…
Over the counter drugs are thought to tamper with good bacteria and some antibiotics can wipe out all bacteria completely. Make sure you limit unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs as much as you can.
Of course, what you eat can have a prominent effect on gastrointestinal health too. It’s recommended that a general healthy balanced diet and exercise does promote good gut health.
Regulating the amount of dairy, processed meats, and refined sugars are also wise.
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that keeping a healthy dose of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains are encouraged. Mangoes, cranberries, broccoli, walnuts and leafy greens have proved some of the most favorable for a healthy gut.
Probiotic yogurts boost healthy bacteria, too.
If you’re a bit tired of hearing that you must shovel the veggies in to keep yourself well, then there are alternatives. Super greens powder and other supplements can really boost probiotic health, and mixed with vegetables can double the nutritional goodness.
The gut is really important, arguably just as much as the heart and brain. Keeping your gut, and the microbiomes inside it, in good check can have a positive effect on the rest of your body and mind too.
