Gut Health
Your gut may seem like a small organ, but it’s actually a complex system that has a huge impact on your body. It influences your weight, immunity and even mood, thanks to the millions of bacteria it houses in your gut microbiome.
What the gut does:
Your digestive tract consists of two walls, called the small intestine and colon, that stretch from your esophagus to your rectum. They’re each filled with millions of nerve cells – more than 100 million in total – that control how your stomach, intestines and entire body respond to food, stress and other triggers.
What the gut does that isn’t so obvious:
Your intestines are responsible for the absorption of nutrients and a host of vitamins and minerals from food. This process means they’re a vital component of your overall health.
The gut also produces the essential nutrient collagen, which helps to repair and maintain your intestinal lining. It’s a major player in reducing the pain and inflammation you might be experiencing from gastrointestinal issues, but it’s also shown to be a key factor in enhancing skin integrity and promoting healthy hair and nails.
How to help the gut heal:
The first step is to improve your diet. Start by adding a range of prebiotic foods like bananas, apples, fennel, pak choi and cold potatoes to your meals. You can add probiotic fermented foods too, such as Roquefort cheese, kefir and live yoghurt.
