Gut health is incredibly important for our overall well-being and for keeping our bodies healthy. Our gut, which refers to our digestive system, does much more than just processing food. It’s home to trillions of small organisms called the gut microbiota, which plays a vital role in our overall health.
Those friendly microorganisms are capable of helping us digest food, absorb nutrients, support our immune system, and even influence our mood and brain function. When our gut microbiota is out of balance, various health issues could kick in, such as digestive disorders, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and mental health problems.
Watch out for specific daily habits!
The Jerusalem Post reveals the daily habits that might leave their mark on our gut health. Several factors can damage the gut, including processed carbohydrates, artificial food additives, gluten, industrial seed oils, stress, lack of physical activity, sleep disturbances, antibiotic use, and even exposure to toxic substances in the environment.
To improve gut health, it’s important to focus on eating real, foods rich in nutrients and avoid processed foods. Including dietary fiber in your diet helps nourish the gut bacteria. Managing stress, exercising often but not excessively, prioritizing good sleep during the night, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use are also essential steps. Last but not least, reducing exposure to toxic substances in the environment can help protect the gut.
An amazing fact about gut health is that our gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of microorganisms, has more genetic material than our own entire human genome. In other words, the genes within our gut microbiome outnumber our own genes. This vast microbial ecosystem plays a huge role in various aspects of our health, whether we’re talking about digestion, nutrient absorption, immune system function, and even influencing our mood and behavior.
Take care of your gut health not just once in a blue moon! Being on thin ice all the time is certainly not a wise move. Your body will thank you at the right time!