How Your Gut Health Affects Your Whole Body
What is the ‘gut’?
“The Gut" refers to the entire digestive system, starting with the mouth and extending through the colon. Our gut is responsible for all processes of digestion, starting with the process of eating, digesting and absorbing nutrients, and concluding with the process of elimination.
The Microbiome
The gut microbiome is an ecosystem mainly found in the large intestines consisting of trillions of microorganisms. These microorganisms are key players in many biochemical processes and their balance significantly contributes to our health. While multiple factors lead to the development of disease, including genetics, gut health is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to disease progression. There is not a system in the body that the microbiome doesn’t affect! Specifically, these microorganisms play a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients and have the ability to synthesize some nutrients of their own. They influence our body’s immune system, metabolism, and mental health.
Consequences of Poor Gut Health
Our microbiome consists of a wide variety of species. There are beneficial species that are responsible for promoting gut health and overall health, and there are species that can become harmful in excess. When our gut health suffers, beneficial species in the microbiome can die off which can lead to the overgrowth of less desirable species. It is important to maintain a healthy balance of beneficial microorganisms to promote optimal health.
Immune Health
Optimizing gut health is essential for promoting optimal health and wellness and plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. An imbalanced microbiome is associated with a wide variety of chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, skin conditions, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease and more. Approximately 70% of our immune system resides in our gut. Our gut lining is the primary line of defense for our immune system, protecting us from threats. If we don’t have optimal gut barrier protection, this can create an environment where harmful substances can enter through into our bloodstream. When this occurs chronically this is called ‘leaky gut syndrome’. Leaky gut syndrome can cause inflammation and reactive processes throughout our body.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Our gut is the portal of entry for most substances into our body, coming into contact with over 2000 lbs of macronutrients annually. Our gut is responsible for digesting, absorbing and assimilating our food. After we chew our food it travels to the stomach where stomach acid aids in breaking down our food. Then the food travels throughout the intestines where digestive enzymes further breakdown our food. If we have imbalances in the gut, we can’t digest, absorb, or assimilate our food properly. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies which can impact our health and functioning.
Mental Health
Did you know that up to 90% of our serotonin is made in the gut?
Our gut plays a crucial role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters which impact our mood, sleep, and energy. Inflammation in the gut and/or an imbalanced microorganism can lead to changes in mood balance and neurotransmitter production, impacting mental health. A healthy gut, on the other hand, promotes neurotransmitter balance which can promote better sleep, motivation and mood.
What affects gut health?
Our diet, exercise, sleep, toxin exposure, detox, genetics, and stress influence our gut health. Common factors that contribute to poor gut health include:
High fat, high sugar diet
Eating the same thing everyday
Sedentary lifestyle
High stress
Poor sleep
Low fiber diet
Symptoms and Signs of Poor Gut Health
Suboptimal gut health doesn't just result in symptoms in the gut. Since gut health affects the entire body, we can see symptoms of poor gut health showing up all over. Symptoms may include:
Bloating
Fatigue
Acne
Indigestion
Heart Burn
Frequent Nausea
High stress levels
Cramps
Burping after meals
Allergies
Frequent Illness
Weight gain around the midsection
Brain fog
Low energy
Test When You Can
If you suffer from symptoms of poor gut health, it is important to test to identify the root cause. Functional GI tests, such as comprehensive stool analysis and SIBO breath tests, can help to identify the root cause of GI imbalances. These tests aren’t usually done conventionally. If you are interested in testing your microbiome, you can seek out a functional medicine practitioner to guide you.
Hi, I’m Sophia!
I help men and women address the root cause of their GI symptoms with personalized nutrition and lifestyle so they can transform into the happiest, healthiest version of themselves.
