Gut Health Interconnectedness: How Your Gut Affects Everything
Have you ever thought about Gut Health Interconnectedness? Did you know that your gut health is linked to every other system in your body? It’s true! When your gut isn’t healthy, it can affect everything from your nervous system to your skin. This blog post will explore the links between gut health and human anatomy. We’ll discuss why digestive health is so important, and we’ll take a look at how the brain is affected by gut health. If you’re looking for ways to improve your overall health, start by taking care of your gut! Check out this great podcast about How Gut Health Affects Every Aspect Of Your Health
It’s no secret that gut health is essential. After all, your gut is responsible for digesting food, making nutrients, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste. But did you know that your gut health is also interconnected to every system in your body? That’s right – everything is connected to your gut, from your immune system to your nervous system. This balance is maintained through The Gut Microbiome, a collection of trillions of digestive bacteria that connect the whole body! We all have a unique microbiome that starts from the day we are born.
How Gut health affects your brain
The gut-brain connection is one of the most important links between human anatomy systems. Your gut health affects your brain health and vice versa. This is because the gut and the brain are interconnected through the nervous system. When your gut is healthy, it signals to the brain that everything is okay. However, when your gut isn’t optimal, it can send signals of distress to the brain, leading to various problems affecting digestion, mood, and the way you think. ( Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, Bhatia M, Wilen E, Wakefield S. Gut., Clin Pract. 2017).
Link: Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, Bhatia M, Wilen E, Wakefield S. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clin Pract. 2017 Sep 15;7(4):987. doi: 10.4081/cp.2017.987. PMID: 29071061; PMCID: PMC5641835.
The Gut and inflammation
If your gut is not healthy, then you are not healthy. It is due to a dysfunction called dysbiosis, a condition where there is a disruption in the microbiome where pathogenic bacteria (harmful) outweighs the beneficial (good). This is a considerable risk factor for heart attack, strokes, obesity, weight gain, autoimmune disease, allergies, asthma, Alzheimer’s, IBS, acid reflux, and bloating. These are all conditions that stem from inflammation. Click to learn more about how Gut Health Affects Your Brain.
Link: Furman D, Campisi J, et. al. Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nat Med. 2019 Dec;25(12):1822-1832. doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31806905; PMCID: PMC7147972.
What about my nervous system?
There are a few critical ways that gut health can affect the nervous system. First, the enteric nervous system (ENS) is responsible for controlling the gastrointestinal tract. The ENS is in constant communication with the brain via the vagus nerve, which is why changes in gut health can impact mood and cognitive function.
Second, gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that have been shown to play a role in neuronal development and function. SCFAs help protect neurons from damage and promote myelin formation, which is essential for proper nerve conduction.
Finally, imbalances in gut flora have been linked to inflammatory conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leading to increased stress and anxiety levels. IBS is also associated with a higher risk of depression and other mental health disorders. Treating gut health issues can help to improve nervous system function and overall well-being.
It’s even more complex than we thought.
These are just a few examples of how gut health affects the nervous system. It’s important to remember that the gut-brain connection is complex, and more research is needed to understand the potential links between these two systems fully. However, maintaining a healthy gut is essential for optimal brain function. So if you want to support your nervous system, start with your gut!
How does gut health affect your skin?
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s a pretty good indicator of what is going on inside the gut. Your gut’s health determines the skin’s health via the gut skin axis. So, it makes sense that the state of your gut can significantly impact your skin health. That’s how Gut Health Interconnectedness can affect parts of your body you may have never even thought about! Click here to learn more about how Gut Health Affects Your Skin.
How doES bacteria affect your gut?
Trillions of bacteria live in your gut and play an essential role in keeping you healthy. They help to break down food, produce vitamins and minerals, and protect you from harmful bacteria. When the balance of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in your gut is out of whack, it can lead to digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. But it can also cause problems outside the digestive tract, like skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
The good news is that you can do a few simple things to keep your gut healthy and balanced. First, eat various whole foods, including plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Second, avoid processed foods like baked goods, sodas/soft drinks and pre-packed frozen meals.Third, eat foods rich in phytonutrients – think the more color the better! Fourth, become in tune with trigger foods, recognize how it makes you feef after you eat it and make a point of avoiding all together in the future. Moreover, make sure to get enough probiotics through fermented foods like Kimchi, Kefir, Tempeh, Nato or Sauerkraut.
And finally, make sure you make time for fun things. Feeling stressed or being in constant ‘flight or fight’ mode can have an adverse impact on gut health.
By following these simple steps, you can support your gut and entire body to be healthy and happy!
Gut health questions
Do you have any questions about gut health or the links between human anatomy systems? Leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to answer them! You can also contact Luciana Registered Dietitian via the Contact Page. Thanks for reading about Gut Health Interconnectedness!
