June 2023

Trust Your Gut: How to Improve Your Gut Health

When it comes to staying healthy, a great place to start is prioritising your gut health. Our gut plays an essential role in maintaining health, so it's important to understand what it is and how to improve it.

How does my gut impact my health?

The gut-brain connection is probably something you've heard before, but did you know that gut health could impact the human body in a myriad of ways?
The gastrointestinal (GI) digestive system is the primary "portal" for nutrient intake and processing, but it also functions as a communication hub and disease fighter.

Everything, including your nervous and immune systems to your psychological health and digestive function, is influenced by a healthy gut.
Overall, gut health is related to

  • General well-being,
  • Bone and skin health,
  • And the ability to fight infections.

What is gut health, and what can impact it?

The digestive tract, otherwise known as the gastrointestinal tract, covers the body parts responsible for food intake, nutrient absorption, and discarding or faeces. It includes the

  • Mouth
  • Stomach
  • Oesophagus
  • Small Intestine
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
  • Gallbladder
  • Colon
  • Rectum

When we talk about gut health, we're referring to the bacteria in the microbiome, and most of the "microbiome magic" happens in the large intestine. Our bodies and microbiomes have a symbiotic relationship.
A healthy microbiome generally indicates a "safety net" is formed inside your body and outside (yes, your skin is also covered in microbes).

The "safety net" will prevent infectious germs and viruses before they enter your body. The microbiome acts like "crowd control" when you have a solid population of health-promoting good guys.
The bad guys simply don't have room to set up camp and cause a ruckus!!

So, while some bacteria are harmful to our health and others are beneficial, both must exist in balance.

Importance of Gut Health

Your digestive system, also known as your gastrointestinal system, digests the foods you eat, absorbs nutrients from them, and uses some nutrients to fuel and maintain your body.

Here are 10 Symptoms of Poor Gut Health:

1. You have a stomach ache

Frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, and heartburn may indicate that your gut struggles to process food and eliminate waste.