Excess gas, bloating, belly discomfort after eating, problems with your poop? Think it’s all in your gut? Find out more about the gut-health connection and how to improve your health.
It was over 2000 years ago that Hippocrates, “the father of modern medicine”, held that ‘all disease begins in the gut.” Fast forward to today, and we’re still learning about the gut and the connections between the different parts of the body.
For example, one of the most significant areas of research today is how the “second brain” in your gut communicates with the brain in your head, playing a fundamental role in mental and physical health.
We know for certain that the relationship between a healthy and unhealthy gut has a massive impact on overall health. That’s why I typically advise my clients who want to address their health and performance to start with their gut.
This article is the first in a series related to digestion and gut dysbiosis. In each piece, I’ll provide some takeaway points to help you improve your gut health.
What is gut dysbiosis?
You may have heard of the gut microbiome lately. It contains trillions of different types of bacteria that live mostly in your gut. Most of these bacteria are good for you, supporting your digestion, metabolism, and immune system and protecting you from infections and harmful bacteria.
But what if you don’t have enough good bacteria in your gut? Then harmful bacteria find their way into your gut lining, causing an imbalance in your gut microbiome. This imbalance is called dysbiosis.
Gut health is about maintaining the right balance in your gut microbiome.
An unbalanced microbiome affects vital biological functions that can lead to a wide range of health issues, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), cancer, obesity, and others.
What causes dysbiosis?
Anything that changes your body’s microbial composition can cause dysbiosis. However, common factors include:
- Antibiotics
- Pesticides and other toxins
- Overeating certain food ingredients (notably sugary foods and refined carbohydrates)
- Excessive alcohol
- Stress
- Eating too fast and not chewing well
Symptoms of gut dysbiosis
Common symptoms of dysbiosis include digestive problems like gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhoea.
However, it’s important to remember that even though dysbiosis originates in the gut, you can have it without any noticeable digestive symptoms because the microbiome affects many bodily functions.
How to prevent dysbiosis and improve gut health
The same basic things I keep repeating that you need for your body to function well — a healthy diet, exercise, low stress, and work-life balance — also apply to gut health. Here are some more tips to improve your gut health.
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- Chew your food well. Chewing your food thoroughly, ideally until liquid, helps your digestive tract break down small pieces of food into micronutrients that can pass into your bloodstream. The aim is to ensure that inadequately digested foods do not remain in your gut for too long.
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- Avoid substances that harm the gut. The big ones to avoid are prescription antibiotics, sugary foods, white flour products, and alcohol. These can damage the good bacteria in the gut and promote the development of harmful bacteria.
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- Improve your sleep. During deep and restful sleep, your body repairs damaged areas and produce the hormones you need to keep your gut healthy.
- Take gut health/rebuilding supplements. Help correct dysbiosis by providing your body with more good bacteria to rebalance the gut. To support digestion and gut health, I recommend:
GI Regenerate Powder (225g) – Peach Flavour
GI Regenerate is an all-around sufficient supplement to support and improve your gut health. Fulled by Designs for Health G.I Revive powder. GI Regenerate is a natural supplement to support the gut lining; the gut is vital to our Health because it can stop allergens, toxins and diseases from getting into the bloodstream.
Digestive Enzymes HCL +
Digestive Enzymes HCL + includes several enzymes which target the specific nutrients in the food you eat and help the breakdown of the food. You will notice improvements in bloating, gas, flatulence, stomach aches, and heartburn, as these are signs of poor digestion.
Betaine HCL with Pepsin
Betaine HCl provides 750 mg of betaine hydrochloride and Pepsin, a key protein digestive enzyme produced in the stomach. This product is ideal for those looking to support their stomach’s digestive function. Taking one capsule before a meal aids digestion, especially the digestion of protein-containing foods, and helps with the assimilation of nutrients.
Chlorenergy
Chlorenergy – a powerful dietary chlorella supplement that provides many health-boosting benefits, such as detoxification, fat loss, immunity boost, and energy.
From Hippocrates to modern medicine, the message is clear: the gut is intricately linked with physical and mental health. That’s why maintaining your gut health is essential to your overall wellness. Along with the strategies recommended here, further articles in this series will provide more information to help you improve your gut health.
Disclaimer
Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professionals before making any nutritional & lifestyle changes or before taking any nutritional supplement. For more information, please view our terms & conditions.
