Why Gut Health Is So Important & How It Affects You

Many years ago, in 460 BC, a man named Hippocrates came forward with a bold statement:

“All disease begins in the gut.”

Wow. Is that really true? Can the gut have that much of an impact on the body and health in general? Since the turn of the century, the floodgates have been opened to this “new” notion that most, if not all diseases, in fact, can begin in the gut. Unreal you say? Read on!

When I say “gut”, I’m describing an intricate network of intestines, immune cells, bacteria, and stomach. When you think about it, our gut is really just one long tube from our mouth to our other end. While many people think of the gut solely as a receptacle for chips, candy bars, and cookies, the human gut is of profound importance, and actually very fascinating.

Did you know?

• Humans have over 100 trillion bacteria in their bodies

• Bacterial cells outnumber human cells 10:1

• You don’t have to have constipation, diarrhea, or bloating to have a gut problem

• Humans have about 3 pounds of bacteria in their gut at any given time

• There are anywhere from 500-1000 different species of bacteria in the gut

• The first 3 years of your life ‘sets’ your microbiome.

Jobs your gut has:

1. Break down and utilize food for energy

The most widely-known job of our gut is to break down, absorb, and utilize food that we put into our mouths. This process is actually quite complicated and many things can go wrong along the process. Our stomach is very acidic (pH of 1.5-3.5), and it is so in order to break down food particles (especially proteins) so they can be better absorbed in the small intestine. Another reason for stomach acid is to protect the gut and our bodies from invading organisms like H. pylori, parasites, and other bad bugs.

Once the food is broken down in the stomach, the food moves along to the small intestine, where the gallbladder releases bile from the liver, and the pancreas releases enzymes in order to change the pH of the food (bring it back to a pH of about 6). This is where food is absorbed into the body, taken off into cells, and used for energy or for storage. What is left behind will follow the trail into the large intestine, and eventually exit in a bowel movement.

2. Produce vitamins and short-chain fatty acids

Studies have shown that gut bacteria can actually synthesize vitamins, such as Vitamin K, B12, biotin, folic acid, and thiamine. These are important vitamins utilized by the body and will falter if gut health is poor.

Gut bacteria will also produce short-chain fatty acids, which are an important source of energy in the body. The bacteria feed off of fiber in our diets.

3. Immune function

About 70-80% of the immune system is located in the gut. Remember, the gut is really one long tube from one end to the other; so our immune system must protect us from what we are exposed to. We have an army that is constantly monitoring the body, waiting for invaders. This is our immune system, and it includes different players like B cells and T cells.

4. Balance blood sugar

Blood sugar fluctuations are one of the biggest stressors on the body. If out of control, high blood glucose can lead to insulin resistance and eventually diabetes. Interesting new studies show that each person’s response to sugar is different and maybe based on their gut flora. In one study, adding fermentable fibers to a treatment plan reduced blood sugar levels.

5. Genetic expression

Believe it or not, our genes don’t control our destiny! In fact, the large majority of health is due to our environment. This includes things like diet, exercise frequency, amount of stress, sleep, relationships, and toxic exposure. With good environmental choices, good genes can be expressed, and vice versa poor food choices, stress, and low sleep can activate ‘bad’ genes.

6. Mood

Have you ever had a ‘gut feeling’? You should listen to it! The gut is sometimes called the second brain, because it has more neurons than the brain and spinal cord, and has its own nervous system, called the enteric nervous system. Most neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine are actually made in the gut. Many brain disorders such as anxiety, depression, and even Parkinson’s  and dementia have gut-related issues.

So now we know how important the gut is for optimal health. Many times, we harm our gut unknowingly.