How Your Gut Health Affects Your Whole Body

The bacteria in our digestive tracts — what scientists call the gut microbiome — is one of the most intriguing and revolutionary issues in health right now. Still, it’s also one of the least appealing.

According to scientists, the trillions of microorganisms in our gastrointestinal tract do more than just process food. This gut microbiome may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but it’s proven to be important to our digestion, health, and even skin.

Did you know that your gut is in charge of many of your body’s essential functions? 

A healthy gut equals a healthy overall body state!

But, exactly, what does it mean to have a healthy gut? How does it feel to have a healthy gut? How our gut health affects our overall body? And What are some ways to boost gut health?

A Healthy Gut

The human stomach is indistinguishably linked to overall health. It allows nourishment to be digested and absorbed, providing energy to the entire body. It’s also where our immune system’s creation and regulation for fighting infections happen.

Is Your Gut Healthy Or Not? 

There is no single way to determine whether or not you have a healthy gut — it is a combination of things. Constipation, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps are symptoms of a weakened or unhealthy gut. However, just because you don’t have any symptoms doesn’t indicate your stomach is in good shape or condition. 

Some of the other facts to consider:

• How often you get sick,
• If or not you’re on a special diet, and 
• What medications you’re taking

Our microorganisms are dependent on what we feed them, i.e., through the diet we take. Diet is one of the most critical factors affecting our gut health. This explains why even identical twins with identical genomes have distinct microorganisms. Microbes can be influenced by poor sleep patterns, high-stress levels, and little to no exercise; therefore, it’s crucial to consider your lifestyle.

A Healthy Gut is Diversified

While we learn the names of certain helpful gut bacteria species, there is no single profile or combination of microbes that make up a healthy gut — the most important thing we learn is that they are diverse.

Some studies and research have claimed that people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease lack diversity in their gut bacteria.

It’s assumed that gut bacterial diversity protects your gut when it’s under stress, such as when you take antibiotics, have a stressful diet or lifestyle, or contract an illness. Our gut health is defined by our gut’s ability to recover after a mental or physically stressful event.

The most incredible method to guarantee that our gut flora is diversified is by eating various nutrient-rich foods for gut health.

Is There Any Connection Between Gut Health And Overall Body Health?

It is widely stated that we react following our feelings. A healthy stomach permits our bodies to retain all of the positive energy from inside, but a bad gut disrupts the body’s and mind’s functions. 

Is gut health linked to the health of the rest of our body parts? 

Well, yes there is. That’s why it’s often claimed that having a beautiful, healthy smile on your face is all because of a healthy and happy gut. 

What about that grin on the beautiful face?

How does gut health affect your overall health?

• Connection With The Mental Health

Poor mental health is often accompanied by poor gut health; however, the extent to which the two disorders interact is challenging to determine. 

We all are aware that mental health issues can harm gut health. An unhealthy gut can even disrupt hunger, sleep, and other mental functions. So, the connection between the gut and the brain makes sense. However, this appears to act in both directions, making it difficult to determine if a patient’s gut issues are driven by poor mental health or vice versa.

Doctors tend to treat problems separately due to potential cause and effect difficulty.

• Connection With The Brain

A healthy gut is linked to having a healthy mind. Because your brain and gut connect through nerves and hormones, your brain’s ability to comprehend emotions and senses is affected. When this communication pathway is disrupted, it can lead to feelings of worry and despair.

• Connection With The Heart

Your gut has an impact on your entire cardiovascular system. More than 100 trillion microorganisms live in the digestive tract, known as the gut microbiome. The majority of that good bacteria is beneficial for heart health. But chances of cholesterol building up in your system when the balance of good and bad bacteria is askew.

• Connection With The Skin

The gut-skin axis has researchers wondering if our gut health affects our skin. According to one study, there was a link between intestinal health and inflammatory skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis. 

The gut is typically the source of skin problems. Inflammation induced by poor food choices or food intolerances can result in a leaky gut, which means proteins can escape the digestive tract and enter the body. These leaking proteins can irritate the skin, producing rashes, breakouts, and other problems.

• Connection With The Body Weight 

If you’re gaining weight and always feel hungry despite having a filling meal, your gut may be disturbed. This might make you eat more, disrupting the regular diet schedule to compensate for insufficient beneficial bacteria that help digestion. In the end, your digestive system’s inefficiency may be too responsible for your weight gain.

• Connection With Food Intolerances

A bacterial imbalance in the stomach due to an unhealthy microbiome can also cause food sensitivities or intolerances. You may have a sensitive gut if you experience symptoms like diarrhoea, minor cramping, bloating, or gas after eating particular foods.

Keep in mind, though, that you could be suffering from something more serious, such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or something else. If this is the case, a doctor can provide helpful advice on managing or repairing these illnesses.

Recent studies have claimed that gut health and food sensitivities are linked. Once you’ve ruled out underlying diseases with gut testing, you may work on improving your bacterial balance by following the best practices for gut health.

Love your gut by investing in the correct formula

Having a variety of healthy bacteria in your gut is thought to improve your immune system, improve your mental health and mood, combat obesity, control brain health, avoid asthma and allergies, reduce autoimmune illnesses, control blood sugar and diabetes, and improve your heart health. Longevity has been related to having a healthy stomach.

Many factors influence the diversity of your gut flora, including the foods you eat. Below are some proven suggestions for enhancing your gut health. 

• Get enough sleep
• Lower stress levels 
• Avoid high sugar foods
• Chew more
• Try vegan/plant-based food
• Increase your intake of dietary fibre
• Eat slowly
• Exercise 3x a week
• Consume fermented foods (or take a probiotic).
• Avoid antibiotics 
• Brush and floss your teeth 2x a day
• Use herbs and spices in cooking
• Minimize alcohol intake (except some red wine)
• Avoid smoking 
• Drink 3L plain water daily
• Consume polyphenol-rich foods (especially dark chocolate!) 
• Exclude processed foods from your diet

 

The Final Takeaway

It’s no exaggeration to say that an invisible alien ecology in your gut has an impact on virtually every aspect of your overall health.

It’s crazy, but it’s also significant. All of these mechanisms are being studied further by researchers. We know that a healthy gut environment may be crucial to overall health.

Fortunately, taking care of your gut doesn’t have to be complicated. Consume a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet rich in fibre, fruits, and vegetables, as well as fermented foods. You can also try some helpful gut health apps available on the mobile app stores.