WHAT DOES GUT HEALTH MEAN?
When your skin starts to break out or your energy levels are running low, do you reach for topical skincare products or a range of supplements? What if I told you it could all be fixed by healing your gut?
Containing over 100 trillion bacteria, your gut is involved in nearly every metabolic function that occurs in the body.
Our gut can become damaged over time due to consuming too much sugar or gluten if we are intolerant. Regular consumption of highly processed foods, insufficient diversity in our diet, the overuse of antibiotics or even stress can seriously affect the health of our gut. Did you know that 85% of the happy hormones located in the brain are actually produced in the gut? When our gut health becomes unbalanced, it can affect everything from immune system functioning to skin conditions including eczema and rosacea. A gut imbalance can even worsen asthma and sleeping problems.
How is gut health linked to our immune system functioning?
Between 70-80% of our immune tissue can be found in our digestive system? This means that proper immune system functioning relies heavily on a healthy gut flora. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the gut microbiota (bacteria) found in our gut is critical for regulating our immune systems. They also explain that if there is an disruption to this bacteria, it can cause immune dysfunction which could lead to autoimmune disorders.
What is gut microbiome?
Our gut flora is made up of trillions of bacteria that keep our digestive system functioning regularly. To improve your gut health, it’s essential that you increase your probiotic intake. According to Love Your Health’s featured Gut Health expert Lynda Griparic; “It so important to nourish and have a wide variety of gut microbiome. There are many reasons why we must pay more attention to the health of our gut. These include:
- A healthy, diverse microbiome protects you from harmful bacteria, fungus and viruses.
- 90% of the body’s serotonin is made in the gut. Serotonin is affected by the health of your microbiome and is responsible for a healthy mood, sense of calm, optimism, sleep and appetite.
- Gut bacteria produce and respond to other chemicals that the brain uses which regulate sleep, stress and relaxation such as melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine and Gamma-aminobutyric acid known as GABA.
- GABA is a biologically active substance found in plants and in the brain and other animal tissues; it is a neurotransmitter that inhibits activation of neurones and produces short chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) which promote weight loss, ward off inflammation, protect against colon cancer and are crucial for overall good intestinal health.
- They improve the strength and health of your intestinal walls, prevent leaky gut and reduce inflammation by maintaining the tight junctions between the cells in the lining of these walls.
- A balanced gut microbiome helps avoid unhealthy weight gain.
- Helps to break down toxins and improve the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat.
- Helps prevent or reduce nasty symptoms of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus.
How to maintain and promote a healthy gut:
Lotus Organics Slippery Elm Bark Powder, helps to soothe inflammation in the digestive tract and support your overall wellbeing. This anti-inflammatory powder contains mucilage which expands in the digestive system to provide a protective barrier and absorb harmful toxins.
When it comes to improving the health of your gut, there’s nothing like the Supercharged Food Heal Your Gut Powder Containing Diatomaceous Earth, this powder cleanses the digestive system by removing toxins, impurities and parasites! Diatomaceous Earth works by attracting any nasties like bacteria, cutting them up and passing them through the body.
Lynda Griparic BetterMe Tea
Nobody understands the importance of naturally supporting your digestive system more than Lynda Gryparic having suffered herself from the long term consequences of laxative use. BetterMe tea is a carefully selected range of deliciously tasting specific herbs that when brewed and consumed support digestion and healthy elimination of waste.
A diverse diet also promotes a healthy gut. A simple remedy in your kitchen cupboard might include home-made sauerkraut which is fermented red or white cabbage soaked in apple cider vinegar, salt and a few caraway seeds. Crisp, delicious and nutritious.
