Your gut

The gastrointestinal tract, also known as the gut, is part of your digestive system, and includes the

Esophagus

Large intestine

Mouth

Small intestine

Stomach

Your gastrointestinal tract processes your food, breaking it down into carbs, fats, protein, minerals, and vitamins that fuel your body. Your digestive tract also absorbs water and eliminates waste and toxins. If you have an unhealthy gut, your body will struggle to rid itself of those toxins. If this occurs, it can cause many issues, including chronic fatigue, chronic illnesses and inflammation throughout the body. That’s why people experience symptoms such as brain fog, diarrhea, constipation, gas, joint pain, etc. Good gut health occurs when you have a balance between the good (helpful) and bad (potentially harmful) bacteria and yeast in your digestive system.

So why is it so important?The gut is known as the second brain, the reason being it is the only other organ in the body, apart from the brain, that has its own nervous system. The gut and the brain are linked both physically and physiologically and they communicate information back and forth continually. The gut is the advisor to the brain, and likewise, the brain tells the gut everything it needs to know about what is going on in a person’s life, both internally and externally. If your gut is imbalanced and your immune system isn’t working properly, your serotonin and hormones won’t either. A person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. Therefore, if your gut isn’t working, your brain is struggling too.

In the following weeks we will go over the factors that affect the health of your guts as well as how to improve your gut health.