How to improve gut health naturally
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03/02/2021 2:15pm
7 minute read
HOW DOES GUT BACTERIA AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
Your gut bacteria can affect your health in many ways. They are a vital part of a healthy digestive system.
A healthy gut can improve your immune system, mood and mental health, and help your body to fight off a host of illnesses and infections. Your gut is home to millions of healthy, harmless yeasts, bacteria and other microbes. These ‘flora’ work together to keep your body functioning as it should. The key to maintaining a healthy gut is to create the conditions that help these healthy bacteria to thrive, so they can kill off any unhealthy bacteria or toxins which can cause long-term health problems.
AS YOU'D IMAGINE, DIET PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THIS.
It stands to reason that what you put in your gut will have a significant impact on what goes on in there. Quite simply, if you give your healthy gut flora the right nutrients, they will flourish. If you don't they won't. We’ll talk a bit later in this blog about the things you can do to help develop healthy gut flora. In the meantime, there are a few symptoms to look out for which might indicate that your gut is not functioning as it should.
Tummy trouble, such as wind, constipation, bloating, diarrhoea, or heartburn, can all be signs of an unhealthy gut. Food intolerances are also usually the result of poor gut health. If you have an intolerance to certain types of food, it’s generally because you don’t have enough of the bacteria in your gut required to break it down, so your body has no way of processing it effectively.
And if you have poor gut health, you may have trouble sleeping or feel constantly tired. You may also be more susceptible to common bugs, like colds and flu, and struggle to shake them off.
DOES GUT HEALTH AFFECT SKIN?
One of the downsides of poor gut health is the effect it can have on your skin. Unless you have any underlying health implications, if you eat healthily and stay hydrated, you should be able to maintain healthy-looking skin. Acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and rosacea are all skin conditions which can be brought on by poor gut health.
The primary role of the gut is to break down the food you eat, absorb the nutrients your body needs, and flush out the waste. However, if your gut doesn’t absorb those nutrients effectively, it can have a severe impact on your major organs, including your skin. When your body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs, one of the first places it shows up is the skin, because your body will start to prioritise your other organs.
If you have a nutritional deficiency, your body will send what nutrients it does absorb to your essential organs – like your heart, brain and lungs – first. This can manifest itself in inflammation, spots, redness, dry or flaky skin and a host of other skin conditions.
If you’ve noticed any changes in your skin’s appearance, no matter how subtle or dramatic, it could be a sign there is something amiss in your gut, so it’s worth checking it out. Many problems in the gut can be solved by simply changing your diet and eating healthier, so pay attention to the signs and be more mindful of what you consume.
HOW TO IMPROVE GUT BACTERIA HEALTH

EAT A VARIED DIET
EAT FRUIT, VEGETABLES & LEGUMES
PROBIOTICS
FERMENTED FOODS
CUT DOWN ON SUGAR AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
PREBIOTIC FOODS
WHOLEGRAINS
PLANT-BASED FOOD
POLYPHENOLS
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