Your gut’s primary functions may be to digest food, absorb nutrients and remove waste, but the importance of gut health extends to nearly every part of your body—from your heart to your brain to your waistline.
Consisting of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus, the gastrointestinal tract is lined with 100 million neurons that communicate with the brain. That’s where phrases like “gut feeling” and “trust your gut” come from, and when our body sends us those messages, it’s best to listen up and take action to improve overall wellness.
“It’s commonly said in the functional medicine community, ‘When in doubt, treat the gut” and, ‘Death begins in the colon,’ because the gut is the root cause of so many other organ system disorders and ailments,” says Minnesota-based nutritionist Emma Harvie.
So how do you know it’s time for a gut check?
“An upset stomach, heartburn and unintentional weight changes—such as gaining or losing too much weight without making any changes to your diet or exercise habits—may be signs of an unhealthy gut,” says New York–based registered dietitian Diana Rodriguez, MS, RD, CDN. “Also, sleep deprivation, food sensitivities and intolerances, even autoimmune diseases."
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