*Sponsored Post by Enterosgel South Africa*
Everyone is talking about Gut Health and how important it is, so what is it exactly and why is it so important?
As Dr Megan Rossi (London), a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with a PhD in gut health – explains:
“Gut Health associates with the proper functioning of your gastrointestinal tract. Gut health is revolutionising our approach to health and wellness and looking after your gut is one of the most effective ways to enhance overall health and wellbeing.”
Subconsciously, we always knew how important the gut is – the “trust your gut feeling” saying didn’t come out of nothing, but it is only a few decades ago that scientists discovered that the gastrointestinal tract apart from digesting and absorbing does a lot of other, even more, important jobs – it houses a huge community of bacteria which is known as gut microbiota and about 75% of your immune cells which protect you from bacteria and viruses in your everyday life.
The bacteria which colonises your gut is responsible for the way you look, live, think and move, yes, even move, because the bacteria affect the growth of your muscles.
What could go wrong?
Diabetes, obesity, depression and allergies – those ailments are only the tip of the iceberg of many other diseases caused by the imbalance of gut microbiota.
It is proven that disbalance of gut microbiota can trigger depression because the brain gets signals from the gut of how you feel thus affecting your mood and therefore life choices.
Impaired gut microbiota can produce a cloudy brain, affect your vision, liver and kidneys functioning, not to mention affect the look of your skin which is your biggest organ.
Is your gut bacteria imbalanced?
Below are possible signs that can suggest that it might be:
- You often suffer from a heartburn/acid reflux
- You experience bloating, gas, diarrhoea or constipation
- You’ve been diagnosed with IBS, ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease
- You experience mental health issues like depression, anxiety, brain fog etc
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Skin conditions
- Autoimmune diseases
Now, Gut Health is not something static as it can change according to your lifestyle, food choices, your age and many other factors, such as:
Stress
The project deadline is overdue. You are sitting in the traffic way too long. The power is off again but your child must bring 50 cupcakes to school tomorrow. Sometimes everything is just too much.
Stress, in fact, has a huge impact on our gut health as many of us resort to smoking, drinking or overeating not realising how it affects our gut bacteria long term.
During stress, our bodies are filled with stress hormones and when it happens from time to time it could be good for your nervous system, but if the release of stress hormones is constant it can fuel the inflammation process.
It is proven that stress has a huge impact on gut diseases such as Crohn’s and Inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Sleep
If your body doesn’t get enough rest it releases cortisol as it would with any other stress, so the next thing you know – you are hungrier and angrier, your cravings for junk food and sweets skyrocket and you’ll probably try to calm yourself down with a glass or two in the evening.
Try to follow simple steps to increase the chances of falling and staying asleep naturally:
- Keep your bedroom neat and tidy, so you aren’t overwhelmed by clutter getting ready for bed
- Stay away from blue screens for at least a couple of hours before bed – blue light in smartphones and laptops can affect your body’s natural clock and reduce melatonin production in the evening
- Keep a diary so you can completely unwind and relax, not thinking about tomorrow’s plans.
- No caffeine or alcohol for at least three hours before bed will increase your chances of falling asleep quickly and staying asleep for longer. Try a relaxing tea instead (non-caffeinated).
- Invent your own sleep routine – shower, a good book, warm socks – whatever keeps you calm and happy.
Food
Gut bacteria are sensitive species and an unhealthy diet may affect their population creating an imbalance.
Fast food doesn’t provide enough nutrition for good gut bacteria to thrive, so a fast-food lover’s gut can get colonised with the “wrong” types which contribute to the imbalance at first and can progress into diseases if your diet doesn’t improve.
This is why it’s important to nourish your body with lots of fresh food and veggies – try to make your weekly menu as colourful as possible.
Introduce fermented food into your diet – fermented food contains probiotics which are crucial for gut flora and help increase the quantity of the “good guys”. Some great examples of fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir – they help balance the gut flora naturally.
Excess alcohol intake may also alter the gut microbiome, so it is better to stick to the doctors approved weekly limit (not all in one day though).
Exercise
Our bodies are designed to move but a lot of us are chained to office desks for a great part of the day, then it’s dinner and a movie at home on the couch.
Try and introduce more active activities into your life, whether it be running, dancing or yoga – whatever keeps you moving and your body in a great shape. This helps your gut function tremendously, naturally increasing your metabolism and serotonin levels thus increasing your gut digestive and other abilities not to mention keeping you in a great state of mind.
As always, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any gut, weight or health issues. Doctors, especially those with a special interest in functional and/or integrative medicine are able to scientifically help you understand the causes by examining your genetics, hormone levels and toxicities to help get a broader picture on how they can help you.
*Article courtesy of Enterosgel www.enterosgel.co.za
What is Enterosgel?
Enterosgel is an innovative intestinal adsorbent developed for binding toxins and other harmful substances in the gastrointestinal tract and removing them from the body.
Unique vegan-friendly drug-free formula without gluten, sugar, artificial flavours and colourants and absence of taste or smell allow Enterosgel use for absolutely everyone.
Enterosgel is registered in 40 countries now including South Africa. For more than 20 years, millions of people all over the world have been using Enterosgel as first aid in their daily lives. No serious side effects have been reported to date thanks to the drug-free formula.
What is Enterosgel used for?
Enterosgel is an N1 Enterosorbent For:
- Symptoms of IBS and Crohn’s Disease
- Food Poisoning
- Diarrhoea (all ages)
- Allergy and/or Food Sensitivity
- Detoxification after Chemotherapy
- Acne
- Alcohol Intoxication
- Leaky Gut
Find Enterosgel in South Africa
Visit www.enterosgel.co.za for more info and online orders.
For stockists please contact iryna@enterosgel.co.za
Phone: +27 82 603 83 62 / +27 82 896 12 75
Facebook: www.facebook.com/enterosgelsa
Instagram: www.instagram.com/enterosgel.africa
Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.