Over the last month, I’ve been learning a lot about gut health.
Your Health Starts in Your Gut
One thing that has really stood out to me is just how much our overall health is related to, dare I say, dependent on, our gut health. It’s rather mind-blowing!
There are over 37 trillion micro-organisms in our gut, collectively known as the microbiome, and believe it or not, we’re in a symbiotic relationship with them. Without them, we wouldn’t be here!
When the Gut Is Off: The Symptoms to Watch For
Inflammation, digestive issues, poor skin, brain fog, low energy, and imbalanced hormones are just some of the symptoms that can show up when our gut is off. More often than not, it comes down to eating the wrong foods for our bodies, living a sedentary lifestyle, environmental toxins, and chronic stress.
This isn’t just a hunch, either. The gut and brain are in constant, two-way communication, what researchers call the gut-brain axis, which helps explain why an unhappy gut can show up as low mood, poor focus, and inflammation elsewhere in the body. If you’ve ever experienced unexplained fatigue, brain fog, or low energy, your gut is often one of the first places worth looking.
Always Start With the Gut
So the “insight” here is simple: always start with the gut.
How?
Option One: Get a Gut Test
You could get a gut test, such as Viome. (I’m not associated with Viome, but I’ve heard raving reviews and want to get a test for myself; they aren’t cheap! 😅)
Option Two: Start Free, Start Today
Or, you could simply start to become aware of which foods affect you and how, become more physically active, and reduce your stress load.
For example: which foods do you notice give you energy, and which ones take your energy away? Keep a food journal or diary for 5 to 7 days and start to notice any emerging trends.
Then, adapt, change, and make a few tweaks as required. Supporting your gut with real, whole foods is one of the simplest places to begin, and gut-friendly options like Rheal can make that easier day to day.
Taking Control of Your Health
This is you taking control of your health and living consciously. It’s also one of the core pillars I cover in my free guide to the 6 foundations of holistic health, because when the gut is working with you rather than against you, so much else falls into place.
Key Takeaways for Gut Health
- Start with the gut: Your overall health is closely linked to your gut health, which makes it a sensible place to begin.
- The microbiome: Your gut is home to tens of trillions of micro-organisms, and you live in a symbiotic relationship with them.
- Signs the gut is off: Inflammation, digestive issues, poor skin, brain fog, low energy and imbalanced hormones can all be linked to gut health.
- Common causes: Eating the wrong foods for your body, a sedentary lifestyle, environmental toxins and chronic stress.
- The gut-brain axis: Research shows the gut and brain communicate both ways, which helps explain links to mood, focus and inflammation.
- Testing is optional: A gut test such as Viome is one route, but it is not essential, and they are not cheap.
- The free approach: Notice which foods give or drain your energy, move more and reduce your stress load.
- The food diary: Track your food for 5 to 7 days, spot the trends, then adapt and tweak.
FAQs for Gut Health
Why is gut health so important?
Gut health is important because it is closely linked to your overall health. Your gut houses tens of trillions of microbes that influence digestion, immunity, mood and energy. When the gut is out of balance, symptoms like inflammation, brain fog, low energy and poor skin can follow.
What is the gut microbiome?
The gut microbiome is the community of tens of trillions of micro-organisms living in your digestive tract. You exist in a symbiotic relationship with them: they help digest food, support your immune system and produce key compounds. In short, you could not thrive without them.
What are the signs of poor gut health?
Common signs include digestive issues, inflammation, poor skin, brain fog, low energy and imbalanced hormones. These are not proof of a gut problem on their own, but they are worth paying attention to, especially if they persist alongside a poor diet or high stress.
What causes poor gut health?
Poor gut health is often driven by eating foods that do not suit your body, a sedentary lifestyle, environmental toxins and chronic stress. These factors can disrupt the balance of your microbiome over time. The good news is that most of them are within your control to change.
Do I need an expensive gut test to improve my gut health?
No. A gut test such as Viome is one option, but it is not essential and they are not cheap. You can make real progress for free by noticing how different foods affect your energy, keeping a short food diary, moving more and lowering your stress.
How do I start improving my gut health today?
Start by keeping a food diary for five to seven days, noting which foods give you energy and which drain it. Look for patterns, then adapt and make small tweaks. Pair that with more movement and less stress, and you are taking control of your health.
