Gut health

The gastrointestinal system, or gut, is a group of organs that includes the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon and rectum. 

Research has shown a relationship between the health of our digestive systems and our immune systems, mental health, hormone systems, cancer and even our moods. 

300-500 species of bacteria live in the gut

An important component of gut health is the "microbiome" - the living organisms that populate the digestive tract. Some are harmful to health and others necessary for overall health and digestion. Good bacteria are involved in:

• The digestive process
• Nutrient absorption
• Blood sugar and cholesterol management
• The immune system as part of the body's first line defense against infection.

 Microorganisms ferment leftover food in the colon

The presence of bacteria and yeast microorganisms in the colon is responsible for fermentation of leftover food that has not been absorbed and needs to pass out of the body. Fermentation has the effect of breaking food down into stool for excretion and gas is a by-product of this process. 

The composition of your gut microbiome, i.e. the types and amounts of different microorganisms, impacts:

• How much gas is produced by different foods

• How quickly or slowly food passes through
• How much water is reabsorbed into the body

This means that food intolerance symptoms (belching, bloating, cramps, constipation or diarrhoea) can be improved or worsened by the quality of the gut microbiome. 

Enter: Probiotics ♡

You can change the environment and population of your gut microbiome in several ways:

1. Physical cleansing: Enemas are used to remove residual food and stool that may be feeding unhealthy bacteria and/or continuing to ferment (and produce gas). They are usually followed by swallowing probiotic medication.
2. Probiotics:  These are substances such as liquid medicines, tablets or fermented foods that contain microorganisms known to be "good". They are often taken after an enema or during a course of antibotics (which kills off both good and bad gut bacteria) in order to increase the population of the good bacteria that supports digestion and overall health. They are also helpful for food intolerances and to counteract thrush (a fungal infection) in the gut. 
3. Diet: Just as the food we eat provides nourishment for us, it provides nourishment for our tiny gut microfriends, and enemies. These microorganisms are sensitive foodies too and the sugars, carbs and fats in the food help or hurt them in different ways. Although scientists and nutritionists have worked hard to establish standardised cause and effect rules of thumb (such as the FODMAP framework and the research done at Monash University →), the interaction between your gut microbiome and the food you eat is very personal. 

The benefits of probiotics are that taking them is non-invasive (nothing up your butt) and it avoids the complexity of figuring out what foods have which impact and when. While I'm always in favour of personalisation, I love the one-size fits all effect of dosing up on these friendly and protective helpers. 

It's also great that you have a range of options to choose from that includes pure probiotics, e.g. medicines available at pharmacies, and those that also provide other nutrients, such as kefir, yoghurt and sauerkraut.