Gut health seems to be the latest buzzword in the health arena at the moment. There is a world of information floating around, with experts (and not so experts) using terms such as pre/ pro/ post biotics, collagens, cleanses... it can be a real minefield and understandable that one may not know where to begin in supporting their gut health, or why you should care about gut health anyway.
Did you know that poor gut health can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, brain fog, joint pain - even ADHD can be caused by overgrowths of particular strains of bacteria (namely strep and please note I say some, not all). The gut is affectionately known as the "second brain" and is connected to our primary brain via the vagus nerve, which acts as a super highway, transmitting information from one to the other and back again. Unhappy gut equals unhappy brain, and vice versa.
Firstly, if you are having chronic issues related to your gut health, I would recommend you seek the guidance of an appropriately trained practitioner rather than google. They need to be well versed and trained in the gut microbiome, and treat patients on an individual basis rather than applying a cookie cutter approach (one size does not fit all when it comes to gut health). They will do lab testing to look at what microbes make up your gut, and from there can identify any undergrowth's and overgrowths - both of which can cause a slew of health problems.
For those wanting to support their gut, and subsequent overall health, here are a few buzzwords explained - in Laymans terms:
Prebiotic - a soluble fibre that the microbes in your gut feed on. Prebiotics keep our beneficial gut bugs happy and healthy, helping them to do their job in keeping a blanaced microbiome (gut environment)
Probiotic - a bacteria. Think of your gut environment as a lawn you are trying to grow. Probiotics are the seeds, prebiotics and the fertilizer that helps the seeds to grow. Introducing a probiotic to your microbiome can be incredibly helpful when you have had testing done and know what you are lacking. It can also be incredibly harmful to introduce a probiotic WITHOUT knowing what is happening in your microbiome, as you may bring in something that you already have in excess.
Postbiotics - these are the by products of our bacteria, such as butyrate. Our healthy gut bacteria thrive on these
Collagen & Broth - both assist in sealing the junctions in the lining of the gut, helping to heal and seal a "leaky gut". Leaky gut is super common in todays modern world where we are consuming additives, inflammatory foods such as dairy and wheat that have had all of the goodness processed out of them, and an abundance of stress that most people experience in their daily lives. All of these factors contribute to a leaky gut which can cause lethargy, issues with bowel movements, mental health issues and much more.
Binders - binders such as charcoal, bentonite clay and zeolite, help the gut (and liver) by literally binding to toxins released by bad bacteria (known as endotoxins that are the number one culprit for brain fog, joint pain etc when it comes to the gut). Binders work by entrapping the molecules and carrying them out of the body via the digestive system.
We have a library of products that are designed to support your microbiome, enabling you to live your life to its fullest potential. Feel free to reach out via our socials or email if you would like to chat about what products would benefit you. We can also recommend some gut health gurus to help with testing should you be suffering from a chronic health issue. Please know you are seen, you are heard, and help is available.