Gut Bacteria and Our Health

What is ‘gut health’ and why is it so important?

Why pay attention to our gut health?

All food is broken down in the gut to a simple form that enters the bloodstream and is delivered as nutrients throughout the body. This is only possible with a healthy digestive system. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which help maintain overall health and well-being. The brain and body are only as good as the gut. We must strive to keep that gut-brain connection alive.

Our gut bacteria are shaped by our environment, lifestyle, health status, healthy living, abundance of healthy fibers, age, and more.

If the abundance, variability and types of healthy gut bacteria’s change and are replaced by unhealthy bacteria, these unhealthy invaders can degrade the inner layer of the lumen. When this happens, they expose us to illness, allergies, and intolerances; contribute to neurological and metabolic disorders; cause Crohn’s and other GI diseases, weight gain, and energy imbalance issues, bone loss, mental illness, and cognitive conditions such as Parkinson’s and depression.

How can one promote gut health and prevent GI problems through nutrition?

There are many dietary ways to promote gut health, including eating a variety of whole grains and lentils, fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso), fresh vegetables and fruit daily, more organic food choices and avoiding chemicals, plain, high-quality yogurt and more. Getting adequate sleep is also essential, as well as regular exercise, and not overusing antibiotics, which can wipe out both bad and good bacteria.

For a comprehensive Gut Health Program based on personalized health risk factors and overall health, sign up for Jackie’s “Gut Health” class. It includes a list of foods to eat and avoid, learn how to prepare food, and begin to take steps to achieve optimal gut health. Considering how essential this is, it’s important for us to do all we can to expand our knowledge and sharpen our gut instincts. Please contact Jackie to find out when she’ll be teaching her next Gut Health class.

For more information on this or other NEWS and RESOURCES, please contact Jackie Ovadia, MS, at [email protected].