There is a myriad of information about the importance of gut health but what does that mean? Our digestive system plays a pivotal role in the body’s overall health and wellness, and also supports a healthy immune system.
Over 2000 years ago, Hippocrates said “All Disease Begins in the Gut”. He must have been onto something here, because research now shows the importance of gut health in regards to our susceptibility to a range of chronic diseases.
So, what can compromise a healthy gut? There are many factors that can come into play such as diet, lifestyle choices, stress, infections, medications and gut microbiome imbalance, to name a few. Many of these factors can damage the gut lining which in turn lowers its integrity, allowing for unwanted pathogens or allergens to slip into the bloodstream where they can cause all sorts of problems within the body.
Here are some simple solutions to support overall gut health.
1. Chew your food
This may sound silly but if we chew our food thoroughly, the food particles that enter the stomach are smaller and therefore require less energy and work by the gut to digest. In today’s modern society, how many of us are guilty of gulping our food down so we can get out the door, or eat quickly at our desks instead of taking a lunch break?
2. Digestive enzymes and adequate stomach acid
Stomach acid is required to activate certain digestive enzymes and destroy harmful pathogens that have been ingested. Correct pH balance is important so the gut can do its job properly, if it’s too acidic you can end up with acid indigestion, too little, and the enzymes aren’t activated and ingested bugs will thrive. Digestive enzymes are also very important as they breakdown the food into smaller particles for maximum nutrient absorption. This process begins in the mouth and continues through to the small intestine. A good digestive enzyme supplement will provide enough enzymes to support food breakdown which then frees the body to attend to other important matters.
3. Gut microbiome
A healthy microbiome is a key factor in maintaining good gut health and the presence of healthy levels of good bacteria is needed. This can be obtained via the diet by increasing fermented foods or beverages such as yoghurt, miso, sauerkraut, kombucha, to name a few, as they contain good bacteria and digestive enzymes. A high quality probiotic supplement would also help to increase the good bacteria.
A great product to support a healthy gut is Digest Gold + PROBIOTICS™, an advanced enzyme formula combined with specially coated TherActive™ probiotics. It also supports the break down and digestion of carbohydrates, fats, fibre and protein.
Always read the label and use as directed. Supplementary to a balanced diet.
Author: Natural Meds, Napier.
TAPS PP4624