What is gut health and why is it important?

Gut health has certainly become the buzzword du jour when it comes to wellbeing, and as you’ll discover it’s deserving of the hype.

When we say ‘gut health’ we’re talking about your digestive system function and the balance of bacteria that is found along your gastrointestinal tract (GIT). 

 The gut’s main job is digesting food, releasing the nutrients into the bloodstream and escorting the waste out the back door. It also has more than a hand in immune health with 70% of the immune system found in the gut. Plus, your gut has a close connection with your brain, called the gut-brain axis where they share important signals via nerves and hormones. 

 So you can see why keeping your gut health in shape is pretty important all around for health and wellbeing.

The gut microbiome

Your digestive system is home to more than 100,000 trillion microorganisms, with at least 1000 different species of known bacteria and over three million genes. This is the gut microbiome. Weighing roughly the same as a mango, your gut microbiome is unique to you, just like your fingerprints. 

The gut microbiome is a workhorse. It can digest dietary fibre, manufacture vitamin K and folate, assist the absorption of magnesium, calcium and iron, help the immune system tell friends from foe and it may even shape mood and behaviour.

3 foods for gut health

Eating a healthy diet not only nourishes you but also goes a long way to help keep your gut microbiome balanced and diverse. Prebiotics, probiotics and fermented foods top the list when it comes to a gut-friendly diet.

This is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health you should consult with a health professional.