Your gut plays a starring role in your life

"Call it a gut feeling, but in recent years we've started to realize that it might not be our brains that are in control of our bodies. More and more studies have proven that our guts have a strong hold on our health, and that a thriving gut equals a healthy immune system and strong mind." -Byrdie

Your gut health affects your mood, hormones, immunity and skin - Here's how.

MOOD:

1) An imbalance in the gut microbiome is linked to many diseases, including mood disorders like depression. Similarly, depression can cause inflammation which can affect the natural ecosystem in the gut.

2) The gut and brain are inter-connected by the vagus nerve which is a big player in our autonomic nervous system and enables us to breathe, digest food, and swollow automatically. This nerve is able to send messages between our brain and gut, and explains why stress can take such a big toll on digestion, but also why digestive problems can make us unhappy, anxious and depressed.

Fundamentally, eating the right foods feeds happy bacteria. When you have lots of different healthy bacteria, your microbiome produces more mood-lifting chemicals, like serotonin (happy hormone) and GABA. (anti-anxiety neuro transmitters)

HORMONES:

1) Your gut is able to activate oestrogen production (through an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase). An imbalance in the gut microbiome is believed to contribute to conditions such as PCOS.

2) The more you feed the "bad bacteria" with inflammatory foods; the more these "bad guy microbes" will make you crave it. Hormones that control your appetite and blood sugar are influenced too.

IMMUNITY:

1) 80% of your immunity sits in your gut and eating gut inflammotory causing foods can impair it, such as foods that are ultra-processed, gluten-, or, sugar-rich.

2) The more diverse and wholesome your diet it, the happier, healthier, and better fed your gut microbiome is. (i.e. the trillions of bacterial cultures that reside there)

SKIN:

1) A daily dose of the right pre-, pro- or post-biotics can not only boost our overall health but give our complexion that much longed-after glow-up.

2) The gut and skin enjoy a constant dialogue via the "gut-skin axis". While gut health issues can have incredibly varied symptoms, the skin is often a great barometer for what’s going on inside the gut.

If we experience any issues with our gut, like inflammation, leaky gut or digestive issues, our skin is usually the first place we notice problems.