27 Sep 2022
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Why is gut health so important?
Dr Ross Walker looks at why a healthy gut is the key to a healthy life…
What does your gut say about your health?
The state of bacteria in your digestive tract can be an indicator of your general health and help play a role in disease prevention and overall health. But, keeping your gut healthy depends on a combination of factors.
Our gut is responsible for putting our body into working order. As it breaks down the foods we eat, our gut absorbs nutrients that support our body’s functions. Your gut can produce “good” bacteria and help keep “bad” bacteria in check. When you have a healthy balance of bacteria, you’re more likely to feel and stay healthy. Poor gut health can create digestion problems and also affect your brain function, heart, hormones, immune system and create unpredictable weight loss or weight gain problems.
What does the science say?
We know the gut is important for our overall health and wellbeing. And when we say “gut”, it usually means the large intestine, the region of the gastrointestinal tract where most of our gut microbiome lives. Our gut microbiome is our gut’s resident microbes. And evidence is emerging that this affects everything, from how our body processes sugar in our diet, to our risk of cancer, depression and dementia.
Tips to improve your gut health
Now that you know the significant role your gut health plays in your overall wellbeing, here are some things you can do to make sure it stays healthy:
- Eat high fibre foods that fuel your gut: To ensure your body can produce as much “good’ bacteria as possible, make sure you’re eating fresh fruits and vegetables and foods that are high in fibre such legumes, nuts and seeds.
- Manage your stress levels: Take time to unwind. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, either in one hit or broken up into short intervals throughout the day. Aiming to get around 8 to 9 hours of sleep will ensure your body gets long term benefits.
- Have a balanced diet and lifestyle: National healthy eating guidelines include advice to eat a variety of foods and to avoid excessive alcohol. General principles of keeping a healthy lifestyle are also applicable in helping improve overall wellbeing. All these factors combined are likely to be more beneficial for your health, than purely focusing on improving your gut health without considering other dietary and lifestyle factors
If you have any questions or your personal circumstances have changed please do not hesitate to contact your financial adviser.
Any advice included in this article has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the advice, you should consider whether it’s appropriate to you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs.
