Research is now connecting gut health - or lack of - to conditions as wide-ranging as Parkinson’s (1), obesity (2), and autoimmune diseases (3). Healthy people tend to have healthy; conversely, if any part of your digestive system goes out of whack, the entire body can be affected.

When we say the 'gut', we're referring to the entire digestive tract, from mouth to anus. Within this system, there are many organs, such as the stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder, and pancreas, that work together to ensure whatever goes into the body is broken down (digested), moved into the bloodstream (absorbed), and utilized or eliminated, as needed. A healthy gut has defense's systems built in to keep pathogens out of our body, as well as mechanisms to bring in the minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants that we need.

The Importance of Gut Bacteria

It is estimated that we have about 38 trillion bacteria in our body, compared to 30 trillion human cells (4). Historically, conventional medicine has sought to rid the body of bacteria, assuming that all bacteria were dangerous. But we need a diverse community of bacteria within our bodies, known as the microbiome, due to the important symbiotic relationship between them and us. Bacteria in the gut in particular serves many beneficial functions, such as the production of a variety of vitamins and amino acids (5), metabolism of otherwise undigestible carbohydrates (6), and the prevention of attachment of pathogenic bacteria to the gut lining (7).

Our body needs a healthy gut in order to function well. Health can seem very complicated. But one aspect of it is very simple - our body needs a healthy gut. Left unchecked, an unhealthy gut sets the stage for multiple health concerns. Heal your gut and you may be able to heal your body.

Signs of a Healthy Gut

• You feel well after eating
• You do not experience acid re-flux, gas, bloating, or digestive pain
• You have one to three bowel movements per day, without straining, that are: fully-formed, solid, smooth, brown
• You do not notice undigested food, mucous, or blood in your stool

You don't rely on digestive medications

Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

• You do not feel well after eating
• You experience re-flux, belching, gas, bloating, digestive pain, loose stool/diarrhoea, urgency (running to the bathroom)
• You experience constipation (fewer than one bowel movement per day and/or straining with bowel movements)
• You see undigested food, mucous, or blood in your stool
• You experience acne, anxiety, depression, allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, fatigue, frequent illness, headaches, hormone imbalance, insomnia, eczema, weight gain (the list goes on and on…)

That being said, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome through a balanced and nutritious diet, exercise, stress management, and other lifestyle factors can certainly help to support overall health and may play a role in preventing certain diseases. It is always important to consult with a healthcare professional if you are experiencing any health concerns.

At Anupam Holistic we recommend focusing on gut health as a key aspect of healing and overall well-being. This may involve dietary changes, such as consuming a variety of nutrient-dense whole foods, probiotic-rich foods, and avoiding processed and inflammatory foods. It involves stress reduction techniques, such as meditation or mindfulness, and regular exercise to support overall health. With these lifestyle changes, many people have reported significant improvements in their overall health and well-being by focusing on gut health as part of a holistic healing approach.