You have probably heard of the famous adage: “Trust your gut”. But going with our gut isn’t just about heeding our instincts. From our skin to our brain, the health of our gut can have far-reaching effects on our well-being.
It may be hard to imagine, but at this moment, trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses are working hard inside our bodies to keep us in tip-top shape. They are a part of our gut microbiome, which breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and boosts immunity.
An imbalance in our microbiome can trigger an upset stomach, bloating, or diarrhoea, for instance. In the long term, serious issues can emerge. Local researchers have found that some harmful gut organisms in our microbiome can be linked to gastrointestinal diseases like colon cancer. In addition, other chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), type 2 diabetes, and even eczema can also occur.
The gut is also where a whopping 95% of serotonin (aka the “happiness chemical”) are created. Serotonin levels are low when we feel depressed or anxious. Therefore, regulating our gut microbiome can enhance our overall mood.
What’s Health “Gut” To Do With It?
There are several ways to discern if your gut is in good shape. Besides taking a microbiome test (yes, from your poo!), acquaint yourself with some common tell-tale signs:
- Funky feelings: frequent stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, pain, or diarrhoea.
- Peculiar poo: anything that deviates from smooth, brown and firm.
- Subtler signs: Constant fatigue, unexplained weight changes, skin issues and food sensitivities.
The bottomline is, if something feels off, “trust your gut” and consult your doctor.
Eating Your Way to a Healthy Gut
To improve our gut health, we should incorporate more probiotics and prebiotics in our diet. Probiotics contain live microorganisms that help to maintain the community of good bacteria in the gut.
If the thought of adding probiotics into your diet is too daunting, don’t worry. Probiotics can also be found in many food sources. An example is fermented foods, as probiotics like yeast and live bacteria are present from the fermentation process.