Why Is It Important To Keep Your Gut Healthy?

Most people neglect their intestinal health or simply, it’s not just a priority; instead, they just focus on the overall health of all other organs and systems; however, multiple studies have confirmed the many benefits of a healthy gut.

Below, you will find several reasons why gut health should be prioritized:

1. Improves nutrient utilization.

First and foremost, it is in the gut, both in the small and large intestines, where a large part of the nutrients that we consume through our diet are absorbed. So, it is obvious to think that, if we have an intestine in poor condition, the nutrients will not be fully utilized and we will increase the risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.

Intestines that present a large amount of mucus, acute and chronic inflammatory processes, permeable mucous membranes, pathogenic microorganisms in excess, among others, will not be able to absorb nutrients correctly.  So, if this is the case, take the necessary steps to correct the situation.

2. Lowers the risk of developing intestinal pathologies.

Having good intestinal health means having a lower risk of suffering from intestinal medical conditions, such as colon cancer, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, intestinal dysbiosis, food intolerances, diarrhea, among others.

Taking care of our intestines through a diet based on whole-grain carbohydrates, high in dietary fiber, proteins of high biological value, predominantly of vegetable origin, healthy fats, and other foods high in fermented sources, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, etc., is highly recommended in order  to preserve their good condition.

3. Provides anti-inflammatory benefits for the whole body.

The solution and/or management of those inflammatory processes that harm us so much, could be found in the intestines. We are talking about the intestinal microbiota, or all those microorganisms that live inside us and provide multiple health benefits.

This microbiota is capable of reducing various pro-inflammatory mechanisms not only at a local level, through the production of beneficial anti-inflammatory substances, but also at a general level, helping the entire body's health through numerous pathways.

4. Helps in weight loss and metabolic regulation.

Weight loss and the regulation of metabolic parameters, such as blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, among others, depend mainly on what is consumed in a daily diet; however, the microbiota, in the intestine, plays as well, a very important role in ensuring these processes.

On the one hand, various intestinal bacteria have been related to the presence of lower body weight figures, responding to balanced diets; while on the other, the intestinal microbiota indirectly helps to regulate various metabolic parameters through multiple physiological pathways.

5. Healthy gut, healthy mind.

Incredible as it may sound, recent findings have shown that having healthy intestines can also influence a person's mental state.

This is due to the bidirectional link between brain and gut, which allows certain nerve impulses to go from one side to the other, being modulated by hormones, immune molecules, and neurotransmitters, making these two organs very close. According to these findings, there are potential benefits in patients with Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum, ADHD, among other mental conditions.

For the reasons described here and much more, it is necessary to provide our intestines with the nutritional elements they need for their proper functioning: from a healthy diet with beneficial foods to the consumption of an effective probiotic supplement.  There are definitely, several options to improve our intestinal health, you just need to reach out to qualified professionals, and decide which might be the best possible option for each case. 

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF THESE SUPPLEMENTS FOR A HEALTHIER GUT? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORY! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US ON ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS!

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Scientific references.

Al Bander, Z., Nitert, M. D., Mousa, A., & Naderpoor, N. (2020). The Gut Microbiota and Inflammation: An Overview. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207618

Appleton, J. (2018). The Gut-Brain Axis: Influence of Microbiota on Mood and Mental Health. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 17(4), 28–32.

Boulangé, C. L., Neves, A. L., Chilloux, J., Nicholson, J. K., & Dumas, M.-E. (2016). Impact of the gut microbiota on inflammation, obesity, and metabolic disease. Genome Medicine, 8, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-016-0303-2

Brennan, C. A., & Garrett, W. S. (2016). Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Colorectal Cancer. Annual Review of Microbiology, 70, 395–411. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095513

Caputi, V., & Giron, M. C. (2018). Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis and Toll-Like Receptors in Parkinson’s Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(6), 1689. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19061689

Farinetti, A., Zurlo, V., Manenti, A., Coppi, F., & Mattioli, A. V. (2017). Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer: A systematic review. Nutrition, 43–44, 83–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2017.06.008

Osadchiy, V., Martin, C. R., & Mayer, E. A. (2019). The Gut–Brain Axis and the Microbiome: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology : The Official Clinical Practice Journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 17(2), 322–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2018.10.002

Saad, M. J. A., Santos, A., & Prada, P. O. (2016). Linking Gut Microbiota and Inflammation to Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Physiology (Bethesda, Md.), 31(4), 283–293. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00041.2015

Skonieczna-Żydecka, K., Marlicz, W., Misera, A., Koulaouzidis, A., & Łoniewski, I. (2018). Microbiome—The Missing Link in the Gut-Brain Axis: Focus on Its Role in Gastrointestinal and Mental Health. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 7(12), 521. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7120521

Song, M., Garrett, W. S., & Chan, A. T. (2015). Nutrients, Foods, and Colorectal Cancer Prevention. Gastroenterology, 148(6), 1244-1260.e16. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2014.12.035