Where is your gut?

I bet you don’t know that the mouth is the first part of the gut. After we chew the food (which is a very important part of digestion), the food passes down the gullet into the stomach and then into the small intestine. The food is digested and absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine.

After that, it proceeds into the large intestine, also known as the colon, and the final part of the colon leads on to the rectum, where waste products are stored until they are excreted.

Simply put, that is your gastrointestinal tract – and your gut!

Why is good gut health so important?

More than 2000 years ago, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, announced that all diseases begin in the gut. Of course, he was way ahead of his time, and not many in those days understood or appreciated what he meant.

Research has proved just how right he was and revealed that gut health is critical to general good health. Studies have also shown that poor gut health contributes to diseases which include diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, leaky gut, depression and many others.

The health of your gut and hormones have more in common that you think.

Your gut flora- a population of friendly bacteria, is called microbiome, and it plays a significant role in regulating your hormones. It helps with keeping estrogen levels at bay. Estrogen dominance can be triggered by not properly functioning microbiome as well as low libido, PMS, and PCOS. Poor gut flora can be caused by stress, chemicals, and bad diet, which can lead to overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This can result in building up of toxins and as well as toxic build up of hormones.

Several aspects of our modern day lifestyle may directly contribute to the unhealthy gut problem and create dysbiosis.

Here are some of them:

• Antibiotics, birth control, and non-steroid anti-inflammatories, as well as some other medications
• Emotional stress
• Diets high in sugars, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods of every description
• Diets low in fiber
• Intestinal infections
• Chronic stress and chronic infections
• Parasites
• Alcohol intake

Those problems can result in overgrowth of harmful bacteria and yeast (candida), which will affect how you digest the food and how well you feel.

Symptoms of an unhealthy gut.

• Excessive gas and abdominal bloating.
• Heartburn and acid reflux
• Digestive problems related to what you eat.
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Cramps
• Constipation
• Chronic yeast infections
• Indigestion
• Itchy skin
• Belching
• Iron deficiency
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Ulcerative colitis.
•    Lower abdomen pain.

The colon and the bowel is a breeding place for stealthy problems which may not become apparent until the ailment is reasonably far advanced.

If you have at least one or more of the above, it could be a sign that your gut health needs urgent attention. Get it checked out by a medical practitioner.

Estrobolom

Estroblom is a set of certain bacterial genes. They produce essential enzymes that are helpful with the metabolism of estrogen. The gut is part of the detoxifying system which is crucial in excreting hormones. To do this properly and it has to be in good shape.

The dangers of an unhealthy gut.

An unhealthy gut leads to many disorders which affect the colon’s ability to function properly. It can make you vulnerable to developing some serious ailments.

Here are some of the major problems which could attack you:

• Colon cancer.
• Polyps in the colon which can become cancerous.
• Ulcers of the colon and rectum.
• Irritable bowel syndrome which will not clear up.
• Autoimmune illnesses.
• Poor immune system function.
• Chronic skin problems.
• Chronic digestive troubles.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Leaky gut.

All of these illnesses are serious, and it is possible that some may lead to long-term, permanent damage to your health if you ignore the symptoms and do not take care of your intestinal tract.

How to maintain a healthy gut.

Your diet plays a huge part in promoting and maintaining the health of this vital organ.

Foods which help to restore intestinal health:

• Cultured coconut yogurt for the lactose intolerant, which is also fortified with vitamin D and calcium.
• Kefir
• Fermenting products such as pickles, kimchi, which come with built-in probiotics and beneficial bacteria.
• Sauerkraut, which is fermented cabbage, may not be the tastiest vegetable around, but is loaded with beneficial gut bacteria.
• Researchers at the Louisiana State University recently found that dark chocolate is fermented in the stomach into anti-inflammatory compounds which are beneficial to both the gut, and the heart.
• Bananas, lentils and asparagus are also powerful probiotics.
• Lean meat and skinless chicken are excellent as well.
• One of the best ways to maintain gut health is to combine a good-quality probiotic supplement with your diet, and take it on a daily basis.

Foods to avoid:

• All sugars and refined foods made from flour, including processed foods.
• High fat meats and fried food, even the popular French fries!
• Chilli peppers, which give chronic heartburn and negatively affect IBS.
• Alcohol, which is full of sugar and high in acid.
• Caffeine-rich drinks like tea and coffee, sodas and energy drinks. Opt for decaff if you do want to have coffee – and no sugar of course!
• The lactose intolerant folk must also avoid full-fat dairy products which will aggravate the bowel and cause inflammation.

Manage your stress.

If your lifestyle is stressful, take some steps to manage and reduce your stress for your gut’s sake! Stress itself cannot cause stomach ulcers or chronic bowel disease, but if are stressed by events in your life, it can cause the colon to react in a way which may at times give you diarrhea or constipation.

Try and handle your stress in a responsible way, and never pig out on junk foods to make yourself feel better. It can negatively affect other digestive diseases and make everything in the gut worse.

Conclusion.

You can cure yourself of many ailments which affect your daily life. The power of probiotics and a healthy diet rooted in gut-healing foods can make this possible and restore your health from the inside out.

In Health,

Angie Spuzak, Nutrition Consultant

If you need more help, looking forward to hearing from you!

angie@thrivinghormones.com

References.

www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-colon

https://medlineplus.gov/colonicdiseases.htm

www.everydayhealth,com/hs/better-digestion/how-stress-affects-digestion