What in The World is Gut Health and Why Is It Important?

why you need gut health

Have you been heard of Gut Health and if so do you really know what it is and how vital this is to your overall mind and body?  It is okay if not because until two years ago I had no clue and in fact did not hear too much about it.  This very well be because I was just unaware and did not have the knowledge or…. because I did not think it affected me or pertain to me.  News Flash it pertains to everyone and is very important to everyone’s livelihood.

What is Gut Health?  Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract some are harmful and some actually have a positive effect on our gut health.  When we have an unbalanced amount of microorganisms we start having effects that are harmful to our health.  It is beneficial to be aware of your gut health as having an imbalance can cause more than just health issues but even effect your mind.

“Numerous studies in the past two decades have demonstrated links between gut health and the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, and cancer.”- https://www.healthline.com/health/gut-health

 

Common signs that you have an unhealthy gut:

  1. Stomachaches–  many times when we have an unhealthy gut we suffer from constipation, bloating, gas, heartburn and even diarrhea if we balance out our gut health we give our digestive tract a chance to digest correctly and eliminate waste appropriately.
  2. Skin Disorders– inflammation of the gut can cause different skin disorders.  Inflammation causes specific proteins to be released into our bodies.
  3. Constant Fatigue/ Sleep Disorders– Most of our body serotonin is produced through our gut so having a damaged gut can cause sleepless nights and constant fatigue.  It also has been studied that sleep has been linked to fibromyalgia.
  4. Food Intolerances– much different from food allergies however when we have an unhealthy gut it makes it difficult to digest causing bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, and even heartburn.
  5. High Sugar Diets– when you consume processed foods and increased sugar you decrease the amount of good bacteria within our stomach.  This actually increases our sugar cravings which damage our gut even more.  This can also increase inflammation which is the start of a number of diseases and even cancer.
  6. Weight Changes– random weight loss or even gaining weight can be caused by gut health.  With imbalances, we do not have the capability to absorb nutrients, store fat and regulate blood sugar.

What does this mean for you!  It means be mindful and learn how to create a good atmosphere for your gut.  Choosing a great prebiotic and probiotic.  Create a clean high fiber diet and stay away from processed foods high in sugar as much as possible or at least balance yourself out. Try to obtain enough sleep!  If this means step away from social media an hour earlier do it! We all need enough sleep to continue to be healthy and successful for our days! Avoid stress as much as possible and stay hydrated! I am guilty I know I need to drink more water and what helps me is leaving a water bottle on my desk as I am working it is a reminder for me to keep drinking when it’s empty fill it up! I at least try to drink 1/2 my body weight in ounces. DONT FRET if you’re going to the restroom every 5 minutes that’s GOOD your cleaning out your system!

Let’s start being proactive and not reactive we have one life one body invest in yourself and take the time to learn about yourself and what foods could be causing a poor gut and what steps you are going to take to change.

 

2021-02-07T09:09:00+00:00

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