The Importance of The Digestive System
Every system in the human body is interconnected to work in harmony. Much like the conductor of an orchestra, a properly functioning gut is at the centre of this intricate system.
Approximately 60-80% of our immune system is located in our gut. Digestive imbalances have been linked to hormonal fluctuations, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, eczema, rosacea, and other chronic health problems.
Having a healthy gut should mean more than being annoyed by a little bloating or heartburn. It is central to your entire health and connected to everything that happens in your body. That’s why I almost always start treating my patients’ chronic health problems by fixing their gut first.
There are approximately 500 species and trillions of bacteria in your gut, collectively known as the gut microbiome. Simply put, your gut microbiome is a huge chemical factory that helps to digest food, produce vitamins, regulate hormones, excrete toxins, produce healing compounds and keep you and your gut healthy.
Intestinal health can be defined as the optimal digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. Maintaining a healthy gut is a big job that depends on many factors and crucially, that the bacteria in your gut is in symbiotic balance.
Too many of the wrong ones (like parasites, yeasts or bad bacteria) or not enough of the good ones (like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria), can damage your health.
Diet and gut health are very closely linked. Avoiding processed foods, high-fat foods, and foods high in refined sugars is extremely important to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, as these foods promote the growth of damaging bacteria. There are also a number of foods you can eat that actively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria which we’ll explore in my next post.
Stay Wild!
