The Gut

Karen Langston says, “The gut is the home to all health and the throne to all illness.” The gut is our gastrointestinal system which includes the stomach, intestines, and colon. Within the gut is a microbiome which consists of microbes that are mostly symbiotic. Bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses all live in the microbiome. This microbiome of the gut plays a massive role in our overall health. I’ve heard plenty of times that when the gut and therefore its microbiome is out of wack, the rest of our health is too. 

The gut plays a role in moving nutrients, fostering a flourishing microbiome, and is a protective barrier against pathogens and parasites. If the single-cell lining of the gut becomes damaged the things that it carries can easily slip into our bloodstream and cause immune reactions that can cause even more damage. 

Many people can suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, and even celiac disease. These all are issues within the gut and its microbiome. If the gut isn’t working properly it causes issues within the rest of the body. One thing that many people do to increase the gut's overall health is taking probiotics. These are foods or supplements that naturally contain microbia. 

Family genes, environment, medication use, and diet all play a role in the state of the gut microbiome. It is important to keep all of these things in check in order to have a healthy gut and therefore a healthy body. If a person has a high-fiber diet, it affects the type and amount of microbiota in their intestines. A Harvard article states, “Dietary fiber can only be broken down and fermented by enzymes from microbiota living in the colon. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are released as a result of fermentation. This lowers the pH of the colon, which in turn determines the type of microbiota present that would survive in this acidic environment. The lower pH limits the growth of some harmful bacteria like Clostridium difficile. Growing research on SCFA explores their wide-ranging effects on health, including stimulating immune cell activity and maintaining normal blood levels of glucose and cholesterol (The Microbiome, 2017).”

Overall, our gut is one of the most important systems in our body for overall health. I am passionate about it because it affects everything. What we eat, what we take, and what we are around plays a big role in our health. The gut affects our immune system and therefore how and when we get sick. It is important to take care of your gut because of its relation to overall health. 

Ways to improve gut health: Eating, drinking, or taking prebiotics and probiotics, eating fermented goods, eating fiber, and eating an overall healthy diet. You can also drink my Stomach Aid Tea to help with stomach upsets. 

- I am Gabby Stout, founder of Soul of the Lotus LLC. I have a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Health Sciences with an Herbalism Specialization. Please feel free to email me with any questions or shop on my website to start enjoying holistic wellness products today!

References:

Karr, T. J., & D., T. K. Ph. (2018). Our Journey with Food Cookery Book.

The microbiome. (2017, August 16). The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/