You’ve likely heard about your gut health – but do you know what it means? Your gut health is essential to your overall physical and mental wellness. Still, it's not always easy to keep in check.
An unhealthy gut often leads to various uncomfortable GI symptoms like abdominal pain, skin issues, and chronic health problems, including irritable bowel syndrome. The good news is that you can easily take control of your gut health with various lifestyle changes.
At Gateway Gastroenterology, our team specializes in issues affecting your gut's microbiome. Our gastroenterologists offer various diagnostic tools and treatments to help you finally take control of your gut health.
Gut health is a vital component of staying healthy throughout life. Your gut breaks down the foods you eat and turns them into vital nutrients your body requires to function properly.
Your gut health contributes to various body functions and keeps you healthy. A few of the reasons your gut health is essential include:
Unfortunately, various factors affect gut health and cause issues within the body. Over- processed foods, stress, lack of sleep, and inactivity can all lead to poor gut health. The result is a compromised immune system, uncomfortable digestive symptoms, and chronic fatigue.
Your gut microbiome is unique. It’s the delicate ecosystem that lives inside your stomach and intestines. It houses many microorganisms, including healthy and harmful bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
The first microbiome you have happens at birth, either through breastfeeding or a vaginal delivery. As you age, other things contribute to your microbiome, including the foods you eat and other environmental factors.
Most microorganisms in your microbiome work with you to create a healthy environment. Your gut provides them a place to live, and you provide them with the nutrients they require to keep your gut healthy.
However, certain factors may damage healthy organisms, allowing unhealthy bacteria to take over and causing various issues with physical and mental health.
The digestive system is a complicated part of the body, but you can take steps to support your gut's microbiome. It may be as simple as changing the foods you regularly eat. Fermented foods are some of the best you can eat for your microbiome, and they include:
High-fiber foods are also beneficial to gut health. Whole grains, fruits, and beans are all high in fiber, which is essential for a healthy microbiome, proper digestion, and preventing constipation.
Prebiotic foods are another vital component of keeping your microbiome happy. Adding foods like bananas, asparagus, oats, and garlic helps keep the healthy bacteria in your gut working properly.
The foods you eat are a crucial aspect of keeping your microbiome healthy, but there are other things you can do to keep your gut in tip-top shape. Our team offers the following tips to keep your gut microbiome in check:
Prebiotics and probiotics are essential components of a healthy microbiome. Probiotics increase the healthy bacteria in the gut, while prebiotics help feed those bacteria and keep them balanced.
Eating a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners disrupts the gut’s natural microbiome, leading to various issues, including an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. It also may cause issues like gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
Smoking negatively affects the body in many ways, including altering the flora in your gut. The chemicals in cigarettes increase harmful microorganisms and decrease the good bacteria in the intestines, causing various issues in the body.
Antibiotics are necessary to treat harmful infections, but they also alter the bacteria in the gut. Unfortunately, antibiotics eliminate all bacteria, including the good ones. It's okay to take antibiotics when needed, but avoid overusing them or using them for viral conditions.
Stress management is also crucial to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Take steps like meditating regularly, practicing deep breathing, and using relaxation techniques.
To learn more about managing your gut's microbiome, call Gateway Gastroenterology today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. You may also request a consultation on our website. We have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, and Ballwin, Missouri.