We’ve all heard the phrase “trust your gut.” But what if we take that a bit more literally? There is a growing body of research and evidence pointing to the fact that the health of our gut microbiome has an undeniable and far-reaching effect on our health.
What is the Microbiome?
Your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is the part of your body that breaks down what you eat and drink into nutrients. Through microorganisms living in your intestines your body puts those nutrients to work. These hard-working organisms are what constitute your microbiome.
In a healthy person the microbes within the microbiome all work together to keep a person’s gut, and the rest of the body by extension, in balance and healthy.
Signs Something is Off
So, if all those little things in your gut can have such a huge impact on how you feel, when do you know that something isn’t right? Just as with every other ailment, there are signs and symptoms that can identify a possible problem.
If you’re bloated or have excessive gas, there might be trouble brewing. Furthermore, if you have constipation, diarrhea, or excessive weight gain, then you can reasonably suspect that your gut might not be operating at peak capacity.
Be sure to speak with your physician if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you are experiencing symptoms which are affecting your day-to-day life.
How you Eat
Are you doomed to a life of flatulence and discomfort if your microbiome isn’t healthy? No way! There are some things that you can do to promote a healthy GI tract.
Eat foods that are rich in probiotics, like kefir and fermented or pickled foods. The probiotics in these foods will help your gut do its job by strengthening the microorganisms therein. Additionally, avoid foods that are heavily processed or contain a large quantity of refined sugars which can promote the growth of negative microbes in your microbiome.
Greasy fast food every night spells biome biohazard. The key is to keep a good balance!
How you Live
In addition to your diet, there are some other steps that you can take to make sure that your digestive biome is on the right track.
Good sleep, in both quantity and quality, is crucial to achieving health in all areas; your gut is no different. In tandem with good sleep is exercise, as a strong cardiovascular system can support all the health systems in your body. Finally, managing your stress is crucial, as high levels of stress can throw your whole body out of whack.
Liberty HealthShare members share into both primary care physicians as well as some naturopathic and alternative treatments. Take charge of your healthcare and help your gut health help you!
To learn more about how healthsharing works and how you can become a Liberty HealthShare member, email us at info@libertyhealthshare.org today!
