Your gut is probably the most extraordinary part of your entire body! Some say the digestive system is separate to the human body in the case that it is a tube with no interruptions from the top to the bottom. There is a school of thought that says humans exist only to be the host for the gut, which is really in control.
Nevertheless, the gut is a remarkable place. Here are some amazing facts about it that you may not know:
1. The quality, quantity, and composition of the bacteria in your gut play a massive role in your health. Not just of the gut, but also influence the brain and immune system.
2. Your gut microbiome is made of more than 100 trillion bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms.
3. The gut has 200 million neurons (nerve connections) which is the equivalent of a dog or cats’ brain.
So, as you can see, that tube inside our tummy is quite remarkable and really does look after us. And with that said, how can we look after it so that we can have the best digestive system going and in turn improve our brains and immune system?
These are great for us two-fold, the roughage created from eating these aids the movement and motility of the gut. Reducing things like constipation. Also, because they are organic, they have no pesticides that will kill off good bacteria in our gut.
Our modern diet can really damage the quality of our gut bacteria and microbiome. Even if you are eating well now, potentially the years of bad food before or any courses of antibiotics will have damaged that healthy gut bacteria. Supplementing with a good quality probiotic is essential for a great gut health.
Moving the body allows for movement and stimulation of the gut. I am not talking vigorous exercise here as that will pull blood away from the gut. But standing up and walking around regularly is essential to aid the motility and movement in the gut. Sitting for a long time can compress the bowel, slow motility, and increase risk of gut complications.
As always, simple advice but if we commit to doing this on a regular basis, the results can be extraordinary, just like your gut is supposed to be.
Check out this podcast I recorded with Dr Rob Beaven. a chiropractor whose natural approach to Ulcerative Colitis saved him from surgery.:
Yours in Health,
Tom
