Impact of gut health on your physical and mental wellbeing

Trillions of bacteria reside in your body. They live in your digestive tract, which are your intestines.

These bacteria are known as gut microbiota, and they play a very important role in your overall health. Your intestines play a major role in absorbing nutrients and expelling out the waste from your body. So, it makes sense that keeping this part of your body healthy and happy is very important.

The way to keep these bacteria healthy is to keep them balanced. This balance plays a vital role in your mental and physical health and also in improving your immunity.

“In healthy people, there is a diverse array of organisms,” says Dr Gail Hecht, chair of the American Gastroenterological Association Center for Gut Microbiome Research & Education. [1]

Research has shown that gut health can have a very direct impact on not only your digestive health but completely unrelated aspects such as emotional wellbeing, and mental stability. It has been linked to anxiety and depression as well.

Emotional stress can also affect gut health and bacteria. Scientists refer to the “gut-brain axis,” a pathway through which signals from the gut can affect neurotransmitters in the brain, and vice versa. [2]

The food you consume has a direct impact on your gut health. Some foods you consume promote a balanced environment and consequence improving your immunity and general health.

Some easy ways to recognize that your gut might be unhealthy are having a bloated stomach, gas, nausea, or stomach pain.

Here are some ways to improve your gut health :

1. Limit dairy products and red meat consumption. Instead, try to consume foods high in fibre like fruits and vegetables. Some other foods high in fibre are- kidney beans, lentils, whole grains.
2. Bifidobacterium is considered good and beneficial bacteria for the gut. Some foods that have shown to be high in this bacterium are apples, almonds, and pistachios.
3. Take probiotic supplements. One of the easiest ones to find is Yakult. It balances and takes care of your gut health.
4. Consuming fermented food can also be great for your gut. Some fermented foods to consume are- Yogurt, Buttermilk, Cheese, Kombucha, Kefir, Kimchi, Pickle, Idli, Dosa, Dhokla, etc
5. Try to reduce your consumption of sugar, especially artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners have shown to have a huge negative impact on your gut health.
6. Stress management can be a huge factor in all aspects of your health, and the same goes for your gut health as well. Mental and physical stress can directly impact the microbes in your gut. Some ways to reduce this stress can be different breathwork exercises, meditation, and also progressive muscle relaxation.
7. Try to avoid your intake of antibiotics if you do not need it. They fact bacteria effectively but unfortunately can harm your gut health.
8. Lastly but most importantly, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly can also have a direct positive impact on your gut health.

[1] [2]- (source — https://time.com/5556071/gut-health-diet/ )