Why all the fuss about gut health?

Most people are aware that good bacteria are linked to gut health, and thousands of products now promote themselves as ‘gut friendly’, but why should we care?

The estimated 100 trillion microorganisms in the gut, mainly found in the large intestine (colon), are collectively known as the gut microbiota. This combination of microorganisms (consisting mainly of bacteria and yeasts) perform vital functions in the body, including helping their host to digest food, synthesise vitamins, and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate which is involved in maintaining a healthy gut barrier.

Gut bacteria also play a crucial role in immune function by stimulating the production of infection-fighting cells and working with the gut lining to prevent harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. In fact, the gut is the epicentre of the immune system – approximately 70% of immune cells are located there.

Research suggests maintaining a balance between friendly and not-so-friendly (opportunistic) bacteria is crucial to a healthy gut. It is therefore not surprising that an imbalanced gut microbiome (dysbiosis) has been linked to many diseases including allergies, metabolic syndrome, and Alzheimer’s.

Dysbiosis has also been linked to depression and anxiety. You may have heard the term ‘healthy gut, healthy mind’. Those with digestive problems or damage to the gut lining may have problems absorbing key nutrients for brain health, and we know that dysbiosis can result in low levels of SCFAs (which have anti-inflammatory properties).

Like fingerprints, our microbiome is completely unique to us. Initially determined by factors such as method of birth, childhood diet and environment, it is well established by the age of three. But the good news is nutrition and lifestyle habits are known to influence our microbiome throughout our lives so, given its important role in the body, supporting gut health is definitely worth the fuss!