The Importance of Gut Health for Overall Wellness

Learn the whole-body benefits of a healthy gut, plus warning signs to look for and tips to improve gut health naturally.

BY TAYLOR HUGO

The Importance of Gut Health for Overall Wellness

Learn the whole-body benefits of a healthy gut, plus warning signs to look for and tips to improve gut health naturally.

BY TAYLOR HUGO

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.

When your gut is operating at peak performance, your entire body benefits:

Your immunity is stronger.

It’s estimated that up to 70 percent of our immune cells are located in the gut, helping our body ward off everything from allergies to the common cold to cancer.

Your mental health is better.

Your gut is responsible for manufacturing 95 percent of your body’s serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone.”

Your heart is healthier.

Substances produced by your gut microbe (called metabolites) can influence diabetes, high blood pressure and inflammation.

It’s easier to lose or maintain weight.

Bacteria in your gut can impact how foods are digested and how fat is stored in the body.

When your gut is operating at peak performance, your entire body benefits:

Your immunity is stronger.

It’s estimated that up to 70 percent of our immune cells are located in the gut, helping our body ward off everything from allergies to the common cold to cancer.

Your mental health is better.

Your gut is responsible for manufacturing 95 percent of your body’s serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone.”

Your heart is healthier.

Substances produced by your gut microbe (called metabolites) can influence diabetes, high blood pressure and inflammation.

It’s easier to lose or maintain weight.

Bacteria in your gut can impact how foods are digested and how fat is stored in the body.

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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Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve gut health naturally:

Clean up your diet.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, opt for white meat over red, and cut back on caffeine, alcohol and fatty foods.

Get adequate sleep and exercise.

Both of which help prevent obesity, which is known to cause digestive issues.

Manage mental health issues.

Such as stress, depression and anxiety.

Incorporate natural prebiotics and probiotics.

Probiotics such as whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic and soybeans; probiotics such as yogurt, kombucha, pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir into your meals.

Add healthy gut supplements.

Like probiotics, to your daily regimen.

Avoid antibiotics when possible.

As these kill the good bacteria in your gut, along with the bad.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve gut health naturally:

Clean up your diet.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, opt for white meat over red, and cut back on caffeine, alcohol and fatty foods.

Get adequate sleep and exercise.

Both of which help prevent obesity, which is known to cause digestive issues.

Manage mental health issues.

Such as stress, depression and anxiety.

Incorporate natural prebiotics and probiotics.

Probiotics such as whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic and soybeans; probiotics such as yogurt, kombucha, pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir into your meals.

Add healthy gut supplements.

Like probiotics, to your daily regimen.

Avoid antibiotics when possible.

As these kill the good bacteria in your gut, along with the bad.

The Importance of Gut Health for Overall Wellness

Learn the whole-body benefits of a healthy gut, plus warning signs to look for and tips to improve gut health naturally.

The Importance of Gut Health for Overall Wellness

Learn the whole-body benefits of a healthy gut, plus warning signs to look for and tips to improve gut health naturally.

When your gut is operating at peak performance, your entire body benefits:

Your immunity is stronger.

Your mental health is better.

Your heart is healthier.

It’s easier to lose or maintain weight.

When your gut is operating at peak performance, your entire body benefits:

Your immunity is stronger.

Your mental health is better.

Your heart is healthier.

It’s easier to lose or maintain weight.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve gut health naturally:

Clean up your diet.

Get adequate sleep and exercise.

Manage mental health issues.

Incorporate natural prebiotics and probiotics.

Add healthy gut supplements.

Avoid antibiotics when possible.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve gut health naturally:

Clean up your diet.

Get adequate sleep and exercise.

Manage mental health issues.

Incorporate natural prebiotics and probiotics.

Add healthy gut supplements.

Avoid antibiotics when possible.

MORE ON GUT HEALTH

The Benefits of Probiotics

A Primer on Probiotics

How a Healthy Gut Can Support Immunity