Your gut is a universe of trillions of microorganisms which work together and may affect every part of your body, from brain to bones, your thoughts and your feelings. Deep in your gut, these trillions of chemists work hard to help you digest your food and convert it to nutrients and vitamins you cannot produce on your own and they protect you from diseases. The microbiome or the community of microorganisms living inside your body majorly resides in your digestive tract.
These microbes work hard and are involved mainly in the digestive process wherein it breaks down food and beverage particles that you take and release nutrients and vitamins which our body absorbs and is essential for our well-being.
The bacteria in your gut have a huge impact on the way you feel. It plays a critical role in shaping your appetite, metabolism and even your allergies. It produces neurotransmitters that regulate your mood and influences the mental pathways in the brain in a way that it can alter mood and behavior, either positively or negatively. Gut microbes affect the way you store fat, how you respond to hormones that make you feel hungry or satisfied. It forms your appetite and it learns the way on how you balance the levels of glucose in your blood.
What you eat determines which bacteria will thrive in your gut. There is an often-told story from a Cherokee folklore about a fight between two wolves. One is evil with so much of anger, envy and greed. The other is good, he is full of joy, hope, kindness and humility. This is the same fight that is going on inside you and any other person. Might be wondering which wolf win? It is the one you feed.
Every time you eat, you are feeding somebody. Too often, and with the abundance of fast foods, we are feeding the bad guys and starving the good. Bad bacteria tend to feed on sugary foods and unhealthy fats. While the good ones that need to thrive inside your gut is fiber. It is the most crucial ingredient for gut health. Load up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans for a positive gut environment. Aside from fiber, fermented foods can also be one good source that fuels gut health. It improves the absorption of minerals and it has probiotics properties which have shown to help fight cancer, obesity and constipation. Choose from a selection of fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, miso, kefir, pickles and vinegar.
The good bacteria are called Probiotics. You must feed the good ones because they aid in digestion and they keep your tummy healthy. Prebiotics are the food that is needed by probiotics. To get them more effective, you must feed them with more prebiotics which are a type of plant fiber which we cannot digest and resides in our large intestines. Have the most of whole plant foods, eat lots of fiber to nurture good bacteria.
Another way to consume probiotics is in dietary supplement. They have been found to be helpful in treating diarrhea, irritable bowel movement, acne and even eczema. It helps balance the friendly bacteria in our digestive system. Certain probiotic strains contained can improve some mental health conditions and keep a healthy heart. Supplements can help, but always consider what you eat with utmost importance.
The wellness of both your body and brain depends on your gut health. A healthy gut, equates to a happy human. Always listen to your gut.
