It may be hard to believe, but the condition of your digestive system is a key part in staying healthy. This is why so many doctors, nutritionists, and wellness experts focus on gut health—the balance, or imbalance, of bacteria and yeast in your digestive system.
But what exactly does your gut have to do with anything? Why is it so important in staying physically, and even mentally and emotionally healthy? Let’s have a quick chat about why it’s even important in the first place and how to keep it healthy.
What Is Gut Health and What Causes An Unhealthy Gut In the First Place?
Good gut health occurs when there’s a healthy balance between helpful and potential harmful bacteria and yeast in your digestive system. It’s incredibly important to know when your gut is doing OK because, after all, your gut microbiome is the foundation of your health.
So what are some signs of an healthy gut? The list is long, but the main indicators that something is not quite right are fatigue, stress, trouble sleeping, unwanted weight changes, skin irritation, and newly developed food intolerances.
Of course, the symptoms you experience are directly linked to unhealthy habits you have. For example, if you’re experiencing upset stomachs often, it’s like that you’re eating foods that your body doesn’t agree with. Or maybe you know you don’t get enough sleep in general, so it’s no surprise that you have disturbed both your gut health and your sleep patterns.
When it comes to gut health, advice on how to detect it is always rooted in common sense. If you know you don’t have the healthiest habits and your body is starting to suffer from it, then it’s safe to say that the health of your gut may be on shaky grounds, as well.
Why Is It Important?
Keeping your gut in good shape is important because it’s directly linked to your immune system. “Seventy percent of the immune system is located in the gut,” says David Heber, MD, PhD, professor emeritus of medicine at UCLA Health. “Nutrition is a key modulator of immune function.”
This means that a lot of disease and illness can be avoided by simply thinking twice about what you put in your body. While we are talking primarily about the physical body, don’t forget that gut health can also negatively or positively impact your mental and emotional health as well.
According to Harvard Health, “A person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That’s because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.” This is part of the reason why people throw up or have to use the bathroom when they’re anxious. Conversely, anxiety and stress can be a sign of poor gut health.
How Do We Keep It Healthy?
Since gut health is all about your digestive system, the easiest way to keep it healthy is by watching what you consume. Of course, everyone is different so what diet you should follow is strictly between you and your healthcare professional(s). However, there are a list of food and behaviors that’ll keep your gut in good shape:
- Taking probiotics and prebiotics to improve your microbiome.
- Eating more fermented foods like tempeh, yogurt, sauerkraut, and even drinking kombucha.
- Eat less artificial sweeteners, red meat, processed foods and alcohol.
- Eat more prebiotic fibers that help the probiotics in your gut, such as artichokes, beans, onions, legumes, and leeks.
A healthy gut is really about developing a well-rounded wellness routine in general. So while you work on your diet, make sure to stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and mange your stress levels, as well.
