Gut Health and Its Influence on Overall Wellbeing

Are you experiencing constipation, diarrhea, and gas? If yes, chances your gut is not healthy. Your gut is a part of the gastrointestinal system that helps to break down the food you consume and helps you absorb its nutrients for different functions. The gut contains trillions of microorganisms that help perform and regulate many body functions. However, not all microorganisms are good for your health. That’s why having a healthy balance of microorganisms is crucial for good digestive health and overall well-being. Learn why gut health is important for the body and what factors affect your gut health in this article. You can contact us by visiting our clinic or visiting our website at https://doralhw.org/.

 

 

Gut health and why is it important?

Maintaining gut health is very essential for your body because the gut helps in breaking the food you consume and absorbing nutrients that support the body’s functions. Research has also found that gut microbiomes can affect every organ in our body. The gut microbiome contains trillions of microorganisms that have a symbiotic relationship in the body, affecting many different body parts and functions, including:

  • Digestion: An optimally functioning digestive system is considered the cornerstone of good health. The gut breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste products. If your gut is not healthy, it may cause digestive issues like discomfort, bloating, constipation, and serious conditions in severe cases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

 

  • Immune resilience: Around 70% of the body’s immune cells are located in the gut. It means having a good gut microbiome is essential to keep the immune system healthy to prevent harmful pathogens and receive benefits from good microorganisms. A healthy gut is essential for preventing infections and autoimmune responses.

 

  • Mental wellness: The gut shares a solid connection with the brain. The gut has a network of nerves called an enteric nervous system that connects the brain with the gut. These nerves manage digestive functions in the body. If you experience an imbalance in gut microbiota, then it may lead to mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and even neurodegenerative conditions. Maintaining gut health also positively impacts your mood and cognitive function.

 

  • Weight management: Gut health also influences weight management because some gut microbes are also linked with increased calorie extraction from food while others can help to keep a leaner body. That’s why having a diverse and balanced gut microbiome is important to keep weight control by promoting efficient metabolism.

 

  • Hormonal balance: Gut bacteria play an essential role in regulating hormones. Hormones like estrogen, get metabolized by the gut and are converted into their active form. An imbalanced gut can affect everything from menstrual cycles to mood swings.

 

  • Skin and Hair health: A balanced gut microbiome can help to have healthy skin and hair. In contrast, an imbalanced gut causes inflammation that leads to skin issues like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Additionally, a healthy gut ensures better absorption of vitamins and minerals for having strong hair.

 

Factors affecting gut health

Several factors may lead to poor gut health. Here are the most common ones:

  • Stress: When you take stress, it increases the risk of intestinal permeability (leaky gut), which can lead to an imbalance of the microflora (more bad than good bacteria) in the gut.

 

  • Poor nutrition: Most people eat processed food and sugars, which can harm the good bacteria in the gut and lead to inflammation throughout the body. Instead, choosing fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can help you maintain a healthy gut by promoting digestion and feeding the good bacteria in your gut.

 

  • Long-term use of antibiotics and antacids: These medications can decrease B12 within the gut, which is necessary for cell production, brain function, and energy. It also kills the good bacteria in your gut. That’s why you should consult with your doctor before taking them.

 

  • Unhealthy Lifestyle: Having a sedentary lifestyle with a lack of physical activity can slow down your digestion, and lead to issues like constipation. Chronic stress directly impacts the gut-brain connection and triggers gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Poor sleep, especially combined with stress can negatively impact your gut, and decrease beneficial bacteria. Alcohol and smoking are other factors that can damage the gut lining, alter the gut microbiota, and lower the production of digestive enzymes, making it harder for your gut to function properly.

 

  • Infections: Bacterial infections like Salmonella, E. coli, C. difficile, etc. can severely affect gut health and lead to diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which may weaken the gut lining and promote inflammation. This occurs through eating contaminated food or water; that’s why it is recommended to practice proper food hygiene and storage practices to lower the risk of these infections.

 

Signs of unhealthy gut

Specifying gut microflora disorder signs is not easy due to their impacts on body parts, however, here are some signs that may indicate poor gut health, including:

  • Digestive symptoms: gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn.
  • Mood symptoms: high stress, low mood, and anxiety.
  • High frequency of infectious illnesses like the common cold.
  • Autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • Other symptoms: brain fog, headaches, poor concentration and memory, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, or fatigue.

 

When to go to a doctor?

You should see a doctor for poor gut health if you experience any of the following:

  • Ongoing digestive issues more than 3 times per week.
  • Severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • Persistent vomiting or blood in the vomit.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Painful bloating occurs suddenly without any reason and is accompanied by signs like bloody stools, nausea, or painful bowel movements.

 

Having good gut health is necessary for overall well-being. The gut microbiome affects many body parts and functions to work optimally. Any issue with the gut can affect those body parts and functions as well. So, make sure you keep in check the factors that affect gut health and the signs of an unhealthy gut to take timely action and seek professional medical help.

 

If you need help with gut issues, visit our gastroenterology clinic in Brooklyn to seek professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!

You can schedule an appointment with Doral Health and Wellness Gastroenterology Center’s best gastroenterologist doctors in Brooklyn. If you are looking for treatments, you can also talk to our specialists and inquire with them. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call +1-347-384-5690.