The Importance of Your Gut Health
Everyone knows having a healthy body, in general, is good for you so it should come as no surprise that having a healthy gut is also critical. But just how important is a healthy gut for our overall health?
Gut health is one of the most important aspects of our overall health.
A healthy gut has many great effects and in general, will help prevent digestion issues. In the long run, this means you'll reduce the likelihood of diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
The gut is a pivotal part of the body that is interconnected with many of its key functions.
A common misconception by many people is that our gut health only affects our gut, they picture the benefits of good gut health as being limited to reduced bloating, less stomach pain, etc. While these are good benefits from having good gut health, the benefits extend well beyond that of just our gut. Our gut is very closely connected to our nervous systems, immune system, and endocrine system.
But what exactly does that mean?
This means that the state our gut health is in can affect our nervous and endocrine systems, which means our gut will affect the state of our immune response to infections, hormones, and our brain.
Gut Health ➕ Patient Advocacy with Navigation ➕ Life BalanceExecutive Health Navigation with Dr. Dooreck | Private Healthcare Navigation and Advocacy
Accessibility ➕ Navigation ➕ Advocacy
By application onlyClick for Executive Health Coaching or Executive Health Navigation with Dr. DooreckHow do my gut's interactions with the rest of my body help me?
The gut helps the rest of your body in so many ways! The interaction between your gut and your nervous system for example is very powerful, the brain, in particular, is directly connected to the gut through a nerve known as 'the vagus nerve'. This means an unhealthy gut can harm your brain function, particularly it can affect the part of your brain that controls mood and cause anxiety, depression, etc. However, a healthy gut can put you in a better mood which can affect your daily life in a multitude of ways.
Additionally, your gut will interact with your endocrine and immune system through your gut microbiome, a collection of good bacteria that helps digestion and our immune responses. An unhealthy gut will have a weaker microbiome which is less effective at its job, which is why good gut health is important. Your microbiome will also help regulate vital hormones in the body that control things such as glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. And of course, it allows for the regulation of our immune responses, which is one of the most important functions within our body.
In addition to the immune boost, studies show good gut health reduces the risk for many chronic conditions.
Chronic conditions that may be prevented by a healthy gut include:
Some cancers
Diabetes
Dementia
Hemorrhoids
Here's a great video "How your stomach affects your overall health" by Patient and EMIS Health
But how do I maintain a healthy gut?
Maintaining a healthy gut isn't something done once, it's a consistent effort and does require some lifestyle changes. While there are many steps to be done that will allow you to maintain a healthy gut, some of the most common include exercising regularly, constant hydration, and managing your stress. However, one of the most important, if not the most important, methods is having a proper diet.
What does a proper diet look like?
Eating high fiber foods, such as oats, apples, beans, etc.
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Eating fermented foods.
Staying away from unfermented dairies, such as milk and cheese.
Personally
I eat a high fiber, mostly plant-based 🌱 diet, no red meat, drink 4 liters of water a day, exercise, and am focused on keeping nutrition simple. I am sharing what works for me and what I routinely recommend to my patients.
"Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿"
Gut Health ➕ Patient Advocacy with Navigation ➕ Life BalanceExecutive Health Navigation with Dr. Dooreck | Private Healthcare Navigation and Advocacy
Accessibility ➕ Navigation ➕ Advocacy
By application onlyClick for Executive Health Coaching or Executive Health Navigation with Dr. Dooreck✴ Connect with Dr. Dooreck on LinkedIn where he focuses his sharing on Health, Diet, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Balance.
gastroenterology | colonoscopy doctor | colonoscopy and gastroenterology services | gastro doctor | gi doctor | gastrointestinal diagnostic centers | public health