What is Gut Health?
Article by: Johnny Bonds
Gut is an informal term for the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. It starts at the mount and ends at the rectum. When we talk about gut health, we’re referring to the health of your entire digestive system. The term has picked up a lot of weight over the last few decades as more is being brought to light about what affects digestive health and how it connects with overall wellbeing.
Since gut health is such a complex topic, you’ll hear a variety of opinions on what ideal gut health looks like. However, in general, it’s when a person has a balance of a variety of essential microorganisms in the digestive tract that one is said to have ‘optimal gut health’. These microorganisms are responsible for most of the digestive work.
Why is Gut Microbiome important?
Also known as gut flora, this microbiome is responsible for handling all kinds of things in the body such as digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients. The microbial population also regulates things like vitamin levels, bile, and immune function.
There’s a lot of research going on to understand how the gut affects all aspects of health and bodily functions. We already know that gut affects brain health, skin health, and even chronic and inflammatory conditions like Alzheimer’s, MS, livery disease, etc. Even mental health connects with the gut.
An imbalance of gut flora links to unhealthy gut symptoms like IBS, constipation, diarrhea, etc. More research is suggesting that even bad cholesterol and obesity are a result of poor digestion and an imbalance of gut flora.
To understand just how incredibly crucial gut health is, let’s take a look at three major aspects of human health and their relationship with gut bacteria:
Gut Bacteria and Your Heart
Researchers feel that there are certain bacterias in the gut that are connected with cholesterols levels and heart disease. Bacterias in foods like eggs and raw meats produce a certain chemical within your liver that turns into TMAO (Trimethylamine-N-oxide). Over time, it may cause cholesterol to build up in your blood vessels. Some research suggests that a natural substance called DMB may keep the bacteria from producing TMAO. It’s naturally present in grapeseed and olive oil.
Gut Bacteria and Your Kidneys
Studies reveal that excess TMAO may also cause chronic kidney disease. In the case of several chronic diseases, it’s essential to get rid of the surplus TMAO because this surplus could also cause heart disease. Some researchers even believe that the production of Trimethylamine-N-oxide may cause chronic kidney disease to happen in the first place.
Gut Bacteria and The Brain
Your brain is connected to the entire body via nerves through which it sends all kinds of signals and messages through neurotransmitters. It’s being brought to light that the gut talks back to you via the ‘gut-brain connection’.
Study after study has stipulated that an imbalance of the gut microbiome may negatively affect your emotions. It may even alter the way the brain processes information from your five senses including flavor, texture, sight, sound, and smell.
Most mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism, and the whole spectrum of psychological disorders seem connected with gut-brain connection.
Gut Bacteria and Obesity
When there’s an imbalance of gut microbiota, you’re much more likely to gain weight. When there’s a disruption in the signal that makes you feel hungry, you tend to overeat and gain weight. You may even feel hungry even when the body doesn’t need fueling. Scientists feel that the pituitary gland which is responsible for controlling appetite affects the gut flora which can alter the way your brain processes hunger.
In a way, gut bacteria links with obesity and weight gain.
Ways to Manage Gut Health
You can better your gut health in a variety of super-easy and inexpensive ways. They are:
Consume a well-balanced diet
Your diet should have a mix of grains, colorful fibrous vegetables, healthy fats, and omega-3s present in nuts and salmon. A well-rounded diet is the strongest foundation on which to create long-term gut health.
Take a Probiotics
To strengthen your digestive tract and immune system, you should try to shop for a good probiotic. Be sure to look for one that contains lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.
Eat Fermented Foods
Kimchi, tempeh, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, pickled veggies, kombucha, and certain cheeses like aged traditional cheddar, and gouda are loaded with rich bacteria that your gut is always in need of. Be sure to consume at least one of these fermented foods every day in your diet.
Exercise
Light exercises can alter gut bacteria by creating a more healthy environment for the flora to grow. Exercising also boosts serotonin and keeps stress – two factors that are strongly connected with gut health.
Reduce refined foods
Your stomach has a hard time digesting sugary, refined, fatty, processed foods, and red meats. Try to limit their intake and consume them only occasionally.
Final Thoughts
No matter what, you need to ensure gut health. If you can follow even a few of the aforementioned health-promoting methods, you should see amazing results.
