The Gut: The Center of It All

 

Gut Health has become a hot topic in the last 10 years. Many studies have shown that gut health plays a major role in our physical and mental health. However, what is the gut defined as?  Most believe it is the stomach…but that is not true. The gut is the small intestines and the large intestines.

The microbes that live within this region make up the gut microbiome. When the microbiome is healthy, there are more “good or healthy” bacteria than “bad or harmful” bacteria. The good bacteria can improve food digestion, metabolize nutrients, aid medication absorption and block “bad” bacteria and reduce inflammation.

There are a huge number of microbes that make up the gut microbiome (5000 times more bacteria than people on our planet). These microorganisms can influence our well-being. Our evolution with these microbes has produced a positive symbiotic relationship where both benefit from their existence together. They also appear to be generational. Ultimately though, your own microbiome is unique to you.

We rely heavily on our microbiome. As such, the microbiome has 150 times more genes than human’s have. There are human functions that are aided by these microbes such as: digestions, immune health, energy, skin health, and mental health.

The microbiome, however, can become out of balance. This is known as dysbiosis. The “good” and “bad” bacteria must be kept in check.  If there are not enough “healthy” microbes there will be a problem. Gut issues, along with other issues, can occur. Also, the ratio between “good” and “bad” bacteria is necessary for digestive health and well-being. Selection of a probiotic from my website www.theprobioticguide.com can help in the process of fixing this balance.

 

#Gut Health   #Gut Microbiome   #Microbes    #Probiotics   #Bacteria