Gut Health
A healthy gut not only supports our digestion, but also our overall health. A good microbiome – the balance of bacteria and fungi in our digestive tracts – helps our bodies break down organic compounds, synthesize vitamins and stimulate nerve function.
Our gut has a special, two-way connection with the brain, and its health is closely linked to our moods, memory, and thinking skills. The “second brain” in the gut is called the enteric nervous system (ENS).
The ENS is made up of 100 million nerve cells that line your gastrointestinal tract from esophagus to rectum. These nerves transmit messages from the gut to the central nervous system, and they can also produce neurochemicals that affect our feelings.
Taking care of our gut with a healthy diet and prebiotic fibre can really help it heal. The most important things to remember are to avoid processed foods that can harm our gut bacteria, and to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts to keep our good bacteria strong.
It’s easy to start eating more plant-based foods and cutting back on processed, high-sugar, greasy and fried foods that can damage your gut. But it’s crucial to ramp up slowly. If you start a new habit or food plan too quickly, it can make your gut feel worse before it gets better.
