I’m sure it’s not a surprise that we receive all of our nutrition thru the gut.
But our gut is more than the body’s primary site of taking in and absorbing nutrients. It also provides a first line of defense against uninvited guests, like bacteria and viruses. It prevents toxins from entering the blood and acts as a communication center to and from the brain (“gut feeling”).
We carry trillions of bacteria (scientists call it gut microbiome), that help us to digest food, synthesize multiple essential nutrients and vitamins, assist in fighting “invading bugs” and remove toxins.
The gut microbiome evolves throughout life and is influenced by many different factors such as the environment, food habits, intestinal acidity, microbial interactions, environmental temperature, stress, peristalsis, host secretions and immune response, and drug therapy, just to name a few.
The father of medicine Hippocrates said 2000 years ago: “All disease begins in the gut”.
So we need to keep our Gut and Microbiome happy for us to live healthy and feel great!
- Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits each day to provide enough fiber and phytonutrients.
- Avoid processed food, and try to eat organic to reduce exposure to toxins.
- Stay well hydrated. Consume approximately half your body weight in ounces of water each day or more if you are sweating a lot or exercising. For example, a person who weighs 140 lbs should drink 70 oz of water.
- Exercise to improve your fitness and enhance the diversity of the gut microbiota.
- Chew well and eat slowly, enjoy your food, let your digestion start from the mouth.
- Manage and reduce stress.
If you notice any abdominal discomfort, like indigestion, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and others – these are signs that your gut and your microbiome are in distress and need help!
Talk to your doctor first to rule out any serious problems!
Then provide support:
- use digestive enzymes to help degrade food into absorbable components
- make sure you are not dehydrated
- promote detoxification by supplementing with vitamins, minerals, milk thistle and other herbs
- incorporate prebiotics and probiotics into your diet by consuming plants and fermented food
- take gut-repairing nutrients such as glutamine, marshmallow root, aloe, and others
Start YOUR Journey to Better Health TODAY!
For more information on healthy living, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Koganski at 215-750-7000 or www.newtowninternalmedicine.com
Tags:
gut health
microbiome
gut feeling
