Our gut is the site where nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed into our bodies and made available to nourish us and provide energy for us to live.
Less obvious though, our gut also contains around 80% of our immune function which enables us to fight disease and stay healthy. It is also connected directly to our brain—thus its condition is associated with the state of our mental health and linked to anxiety and depression.
The integrity of the gut is tied to chronic conditions like cancer, type I diabetes, and all inflammatory diseases.
The gut can also be referred to as our “microbiome”. It contains trillions of bacteria which work together to produce homeostasis: when things are in balance, we feel good. When the bacteria in the microbiome get out of
balance or lack proper diversity, we can feel sick, sometimes becoming subject to disease and other chronic conditions, usually associated with inflammation.
All of which compromise the integrity of our guts.
Diets that are low in fiber, and high in refined sugars
Consuming large amounts of red meat
Lack of sufficient sleep or large amounts of stress
Taking medications to treat lifestyle conditions
Serotonin, the chemical linked to feeling good is produced in the gut—when not working properly, low levels of serotonin often result in depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.