How Healthy is Your Gut?

Go with your gut 

Trust your gut 

Gut instinct 

Gut reaction 

Gut feeling 

Guts for garters 

Why is it that we refer to our gut in this way? We instinctively rely on our gut for important information, and this is certainly reflected in the idioms used in everyday language (ok, maybe not that last one!) 

It's only now that we are really starting to understand how true these phrases are. The connection between gut health, mental health and immune function, and the benefits of a healthy gut for our overall health is a fascinating and exciting field. But where to start with understanding it all? 

It is becoming increasingly clear that gut health is related to a number of diseases and health conditions. An imbalance of good and bad gut bacteria can lead to toxic byproducts and inflammation in the gut that can contribute to whole-body metabolic problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It is even thought to play a role in disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.  On the other hand, nurturing more beneficial bacteria in your gut can improve the absorption of vitamins, boost your immunity and help regulate your digestive system as well as your mood. 

So if gut bacteria is so important, how do we look after it?  

A healthy lifestyle is the first step to looking after your gut. Although the relationship between our gut microbiome and health is complex, you can make simple changes to promote a healthy gut. A good diet including plenty of fibre, regular exercise and adequate sleep will help the good bacteria to flourish.  It makes sense then that the opposite creates ideal conditions for harmful bacteria to thrive. 

The good news is that your populations of gut bacteria can change rapidly in response to your lifestyle choices, so achieving a healthier gut can happen relatively quickly.  The diversity of gut bacteria is very important because each type of bacteria plays a different (and equally important) role in your health. 

The first step is eating a balanced diet that incorporates an array of different foods (especially fruit and vegetables) and minimal amounts of processed foods. For a happy healthy gut, include a combination of high-fibre prebiotic foods (like plant foods) and probiotics (dairy products and fermented foods). 

Over the month we'll be drawing on the knowledge of the MHC Dietitians and Psychologists to better understand the role of the gut in our overall wellbeing, and providing tips on how to achieve and maintain a healthy gut.

Stay tuned to our blog and social media this month for more!