Why does your gut health matters?

Did you know that virtually every system in your body is impacted by your gut health? The primary "portal" for ingesting and digesting nutrients is the gastrointestinal tract, which also acts as a hub for communication and a defence against sickness. A healthy gut is essential to your entire well-being since it affects everything from your neurological and immunological systems to your mind and digestive system.

The gut, which is often referred to as the digestive system or gastrointestinal (GI) tract, includes all the bodily components involved in food intake and excretion. This comprises the rectum, colon, liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, mouth, and oesophagus. However, when we discuss gut health, we're actually referring about the microbiome's bacteria, and the majority of "microbiome magic" takes place in the large intestine.

Diversity in the microbiome is crucial. Gut flora, sometimes referred to as good and harmful bacteria, are both present in the microbiome. Our meals' soluble and insoluble fibres are food for the healthy bacteria. The components in simple sweets and processed meals are what the harmful bacteria live on. Our body and microbiome work together in a vital symbiotic way to absorb all these microbes, digest them, and make other substances that our body may utilise. So, even though some of these bacteria are bad for human health and others are good, they both need to exist.

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Additionally, the brain is greatly impacted by gut homeostasis. The hormone serotonin, which makes us feel joyful, is generated in the stomach to a greater than 90% extent. This relationship is frequently the source of desires for food. Additionally, psychological stress can harm your gut health by inflaming it and leading to emotional eating. It's crucial to maintain gut health since it has such a close relationship with so many other aspects of our wellbeing.

Making minor dietary adjustments now can have a big impact later. Consider keeping a food record and taking the time to analyse your daily diet before making any required changes to improve your digestive health.