Did you know that almost 70% of our immune system is in the gut?
The gut refers to the entire GI (gastrointestinal) tract that begins at the mouth, down to the esophagus, through the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon, and ends at the rectum.
The role of the gut is extensive. It supports our overall health and wellness by converting food into energy, transporting nutrients into the bloodstream, and managing waste.
The gut also affects every aspect of our metabolism and immune system. Check out this website for more information on the importance of eating well to support digestive health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general to keep our guts healthy and functioning properly.
Ways To Maintain A Healthy Gut
- Easing up on antibiotics.
While antibiotics kill the bad bacteria that make us sick, they also kill the good bacteria.
- Going for a mainly plant-based diet.
High-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes support our intestinal bacteria. It’s also recommended to include both soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet, along with naturally fermented foods like yogurt, to maintain bowel health.
- Exercising regularly.
Do 20-minute walks three times a week to improve your overall health.
- Drinking at least eight glasses of water every day.
- Avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol.
- Minding your food allergies.
Don’t push your body’s limits on food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances.
- Getting enough sleep.
- Talk to your doctor about probiotics.
Especially if you’re taking antibiotics or steroids to supplement your gut microbiome health.
Benefits Of A Healthy Gut
- Supports immune system health
- Supports heart health
- Brain health
- Digestive health
- Mood
Bacteria In The Gut
It may surprise you, but humans have more bacterial cells than human cells. There are bacteria on the skin, in the nose, ears, and the majority of the bacteria in the human body live in the gut.
The gut microbiome houses over 100 trillion microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Although every person has a unique gut microbiome, the estimated number of species in a human gut is from 500 to 1,000.
The key is having diversity and balance to maintain harmonious levels in the gut. You can do this by keeping a healthy lifestyle and following the ways to maintain a healthy gut.
Correlation To The Immune System
Although the gut’s main role is digestion, the gut microbiome also plays a role in the immune system.
According to Dan Peterson, an assistant professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a big portion of the immune system is in the GI tract.
Correlation To Brain Function
The brain sends signals throughout the body, and scientific researchers have reason to believe that the gut may be sending signals back to the brain.
Another point of interest is the connection between the digestive system and cognition. In line with this, researchers believe that there’s more to learn about the connection between the gut and the brain.