Gut Health

Hippocrates said “All disease begins in the gut” This actually comes as no surprise because around 70% of your immune system is in your gut! There are an average of 750 bacterial species in the human gut and the health of that bacteria, the balance between good and bad, differs from person to person.

One of the main contributors to the health of your gut bacteria is the food you eat. Fresh, whole foods, with a good balance of fibre found in fruit & vegetables and the chemicals found in colourful foods (eat a rainbow remember?) promote healthy gut bacteria. Good gut bacteria can produce vitamins, aid digestion, support healthy immune function and therefore fight disease.

Processed foods and refined carbs have the opposite effect. Antibiotics can also cause damage to the good bacteria in our gut. Ultimately, if we neglect our gut and don’t work on building healthy bacteria, then this can lead to A weak immune system and increased risk of autoimmune disease. Other issues that arise from unhealthy gut bacteria include Inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, candida, bloating, diarrhoea, poor digestion, allergies, recurring infections, arthritis, skin conditions and mood changes.

Dr Edward Bach identified links between particular bacteria and personality traits. He saw illness as the body’s way of expressing mental disharmony.

Emotions can influence disease and alter the state of our gut bacteria.  It is just as important to focus on your emotional wellbeing as it is your physical! The emotional state causes a change of the terrain in the colon allowing bacteria, which can cause disease. Certain emotional states are associated with specific physical conditions. For example:

• Unexpected shock can lead to grey hair, hair loss.
  
• A correlation exists between Anger and liver issues, diarrhoea & sciatica.
  
• Lost love / grief is linked to colds, flu, fever, pneumonia.

But it’s not irreversible and you can always improve your gut health!

Ways to heal the gut and promote healthy bacteria include:

• Cleanse and detox from time to time.
• Stay away from junk food.
• Don’t overeat.
• Exercise regularly; go for a walk.
• Do dry skin brushing, sauna.
• Reduce drugs, medications.
• Avoid: Alcohol, coffee, smoking, chocolates, artificial sweeteners, microwaved food, environmental toxins.

In terms of the foods you eat, try and include the following:

Foods rich in vitamin C: berries, oranges, red, pepper, broccoli, kale

• zinc pumpkin seeds, spinach, grass fed meat and seafood
• the amino acid glutamine: cabbage juice, spirulina, asparagus, broccoli, cod, salmon
• Include prebiotic and probiotic foods such as onions, raw garlic, asparagus and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, cultured yoghurt.
• Eat more fibre and sprouted vegetables.
• Focus on a rainbow of colour.
• Eat bitter foods to improve digestion and stimulate the liver
• To reduce inflammation, use barley/wheat grass, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, turmeric and ginger

The body is a powerhouse and is really great at healing itself, given the right conditions! So focus on good, clean nutrition, plenty of water, move your body and spend time in nature. And remember, emotions can affect the body so aim to resolve stress by addressing the root cause rather than the symptoms!