Is Your Gut Health Out of Order.
For February, I am going to be looking at Gut Health and how an imbalance of this (dysbiosis) can contribute to:
- Weight gain,
- High blood sugar,
- High cholesterol and many other
- Minor ailments which over time can lead to more serious health issues.
And how we can incorporate Healthy Habits into our lifestyle to increase the health of our gut and therefore our overall wellbeing.
What is the Microbiome?
A healthy gut has a diverse community of microbes. A human has approximately 300-500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract referred to as the ‘Gut Microbiome’. This vast ecosystem weighs up to 2kg!
Our microbiome controls how our immune system works. It communicates with immune cells and can control how your body responds to infection.
Symptoms of an unhealthy gut include:
- Upset Stomach
- Gas
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Heartburn
The Gut is our second brain!
The Gut-Brain Axis is the communication system between your gut and brain.
There are approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain and your gut contains 500 million neurons which are connected through nerves in your nervous system, the main nerve is the Vagus nerve.
It makes sense when you think about it. The emotions which come from your brain translate into a gut feeling, gut instinct, trust your gut!
Where does our Gut Flora start?
The gut microbiome begins to affect your body as soon as you are born. You are first exposed passing through the birth canal although evidence now suggests that this starts while inside the womb. This is why it is important for pregnant women, and those trying to conceive to aim to be as healthy as possible. Your microbiome continues to be shaped by our environment, diet and lifestyle.
What does our Microbiome do for us?
Our microbiome ‘they’ controls how our immune system works. They communicate with immune cells and can control how your body responds to infection. They also lower the pH in the gut making it more difficult for disease to thrive. As well as all this they:
- Provide us with extra nutrition – humans are unable to digest certain fibres, they are then fermented in the gut by the bacteria to enable us to gain some benefit from them.
- They synthesise vitamins themselves such as Vitamin K, needed for blood clotting and B vitamins needed for energy production.
- They help support detoxification in the body by binding to heavy metals and toxins in the gut and reducing the workload of the liver.
- They support the health of our gut lining which helps us absorb more nutrients from our food.
So it is easy to see why when we are looking to create a healthy lifestyle we should start by looking at our gut health.
In the coming weeks, I am going to be looking at what negatively affects our microbiome and how this relates to our immunity, food sensitivities and allergies and more. How we can care for and improve our gut health with the four pillars of health and wellness:
- Nutrition
- Movement
- Rest & Recovery
- Emotional health
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If you would like to chat with me about your unique menopause transition, book a Wild Well-Being call and come away inspired and motivated to begin your journey to optimal health.