Why do we say...."Good health begins in the gut"?

 
                     DID YOU KNOW?

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates stated that 'All disease begins in the gut. Today, two millenniums later, we know that statement was pretty darn accurate. 

While not every disease literally begins in the gut, imbalance of the gut microbiome is linked with many chronic metabolic, autoimmune, and cognitive disorders.
 
                                        YOUR GUT INFLUENCES EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR HEALTH

• Weight: Your gut microbiome influences the way your food is digested, how vitamins are absorbed from the foods you eat, whether you feel hungry or not, your inflammation levels, your metabolism and ultimately your weight.
• Hormone balance: Your gut health plays an important role in the functioning of your endocrine system. Gut bacteria directly influence hormones such as estrogen, thyroid hormones, cortisol, and melatonin.
• Energy: Good gut health is crucial in promoting the absorption of nutrients found in the food that you consume. When nutrients are efficiently absorbed, energy will be sufficiently generated and stored in your body, allowing you to function normally and get through your day.
• Moods & Brain Health: Serotonin, the chemical that controls your mood as well as several functions in your brain, is directly influenced by your gut health. A significant portion of serotonin is produced in the gut, and any changes to serotonin levels will automatically have an impact on your mood.
• Immunity: About 70% of your immune system is found in your gut! A healthy gut is a healthy immune system.

 
                                                           SIGNS YOUR GUT MAY BE IN TROUBLE

• Mood swings
• Stomach problems such as diarrhea, bloating, constipation, gas, and heartburn
• Unintentional fluctuation in weight
• Skin conditions such as eczema, acne, skin dryness, rosacea, and so on.
• Difficulty in digesting certain foods
• Autoimmune conditions
• Cravings for sugary foods
• Anxiety
• Thyroid irregularities
• Memory issues
• Joint pain

 
                                                    WHAT CAUSES GUT PROBLEMS? 

STRESS:    ​

Anxiety and stress are notorious for bringing on (and in some cases, worsening) gut problems. Stress affects your gut because the gut and the brain send signals to each other through the gut-brain axis. Several studies have shown that stress worsens conditions such as IBS, inflammatory bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) .
 
EATING ON THE GO:

When you eat on the go, you are more likely to eat your meals fast. When this happens, you may not chew your food thoroughly. This, in turn, will affect the process of digestion and the absorption of nutrients, which could lead to digestive discomfort and poor gut health.
 
Too MANY PROCESSED FOODS

Eating too many processed foods, foods with high sugar content, and foods with high fat will result in gut problems. When you do not incorporate enough fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet, you starve your gut bacteria of essential nutrients that they need to thrive.
 
TOO MUCH SUGAR:

A high-sugar diet decreases the population of good gut bacteria while increasing the numbers of bad gut bacteria. These bad bacteria will then increase your sugar cravings, which leads to a vicious cycle.
 
ANTIBIOTICS:

Antibiotics work by eliminating disease-causing bacteria or stopping them from increasing in number. However, they can’t tell the difference between the good and bad guys - especially in the gut. As a result, antibiotics negatively affect the gut microbes, lower microbial diversity, and affect general functioning.
 
HOW TO EAT FOR GUT HEALTH 

EAT REAL FOOD!

• Real food doesn’t contain harmful substances such as chemicals, trans fats, excess sodium, and refined sugars.
• Up your intake of plant-based foods such as produce, legumes, and pseudo grains like quinoa and buckwheat.
• Eat more fiber! Fiber prevents constipation and encourages healthy gut bacteria.
• The occasional cleanse helps detox your gut and provides gut healthy nutrients.

 
You canalso incorporate cultured/fermented foods.

• Yogurt
• Kombucha
• Real Cultured Pickles
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut

 
                                             LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR GOOD GUT HEALTH
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 SLEEP WELL:

Sleep disturbances have been shown to impact our gut microbes. This is because your gut also exhibits a sleep-wake cycle.

Try improving your sleep quality by setting a regular bedtime routine with relaxation exercises, limiting caffeine after 3 pm and scheduling ‘worry time’ during your day to write down your thoughts and free up your headspace before bed.”
 
MANAGE STRESS: 

As we already discussed, if you are stressed, that can affect how your gut functions. Mindfulness strategies such as yoga, micro meditations, and journaling can help calm the mind and ease stress.
 
EXERCISE REGULARLY:

We all know exercise is good for us - and our gut microbes’ benefit from it too. Exercise helps relieve constipation and increase the diversity of your gut microbes, which is linked to better overall health. Continued exercise is critical, so move your body regularly, getting your heart rate up for at least 30 mins most days.
 
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