By Katie Welborn, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
“All disease begins in the gut” -Hippocrates
Several of my posts recently have talked about “gut health“ & “gut healing“ — but what exactly is your gut? What leads to a healthy or unhealthy gut, and why should you be concerned about this?
Your “gut”, also known as your gastrointestinal system or digestive tract, is a group of organs that includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, intestines, colon, and rectum. What was once thought to be a relatively simple body system has actually been shown over the years to have a massive impact on our health. 70 to 80% of the immune system lies within the gut, so gut health and immune health go hand-in-hand.
Many facets of modern life such as high stress levels, too little sleep, eating processed and high-sugar foods, and taking antibiotics can all damage our gut microbiome (the important bacteria living in your intestines). This in turn may affect other aspects of our health, such as the brain, heart, immune system, skin, weight, hormone levels, ability to absorb nutrients, and even the development of cancer.
Some common signs and symptoms of an unhappy gut are upset stomach, gas and bloating, indigestion and acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, food intolerances, weight gain or loss, Autoimmune conditions and more. It is so very important to learn to listen to your gut, pay attention to any changes or new symptoms, and trust the messages it is giving you!
If you are struggling with an unhealthy gut, I encourage you to work with an experienced practitioner with a background in nutrition for digestive health. In many cases, you may want to explore further testing and treatment options with your medical doctor as well.
What questions do you have about gut health?