The gut is often referred to the "forgotten organ" (1), but we are here to tell you why you should never neglect your gut health!
So you may be thinking, what is a gut microbiome and why is it important?
The gut microbiome refers to the genomes of the microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract- these are made up of bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi and protozoa and there are over 100 trillion of them! (2)
These microorganisms all play a crucial role in helping your body's metabolism, digestion, immune function and overall physiology. Without a healthy gut, your body struggles to complete many of its normal functions and this can lead to a number of health issues and diseases (2).
What are some benefits of having a healthy gut?
Immunity support
Over recent years, the close link between the immune system, gut microbiome and pathogens, has become increasingly recognized. This recognition is for good reason, seeing as your gut is home to 70-80% of your immune cells (3).
There are 3 lines of defense a pathogen will need to overcome in order to infect the GI tract: the intestinal microbiota, intestinal epithelial layer and mucosal immune system. When you have a healthy gut, these 3 defense mechanisms prevent pathogens from infecting the body. If the gut isn't healthy, these defense mechanisms are impaired and leave the body susceptible to infection and inflammation (3).
Aids metabolism and digestion
There is around 3 million genes in the gut microbiome, which is 150 times more than the human genome. These aid metabolism and digestion by providing enzymes that the human genome cannot. Functions include the breakdown of polysaccharides, polyphenols and vitamin synthesis (4).
All microorganisms in the gut play a role in metabolism and digestion, but it is primarily the bacteria in the gut that is responsible for the digestion and fermentation of food, which is a critical factor in digestive health (4).
The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, which refers to the lack of diversity of microorganisms in the gut and reduction in good microorganisms, has been found to increase the risk of obesity, bowel inflammation and reduce immune system function. This is caused by altered gut hormone regulation, immune dysregulation and an increase in pro-inflammatory mechanisms (5). This shows the importance of maintaining good gut health, to ensure these mechanisms are functioning as they should and keep you feeling your best.
Improves mood
The saying "you are what you eat" might be true after all, seeing as the health of your gut can actually affect your mood and mental health!
Your autonomic nervous system, HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) and the nerves in the gut, are all connected. This allows the brain to have an effect on the gut and the gut to have an effect the brain, which includes altering mood, cognition and mental health. Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and autism have links to disturbances the gut microbiome (6).
It is no secret that probiotics promote gut health and over the last decade, there have been several clinical trials documenting the effects of psychobiotics, which have shown positive effects on supporting the management of anxiety and depression (6).
Ways to improve your gut health
Your gut microbiome can be improved through diet and lifestyle changes. Ways to improve your gut health
The addition of dietary supplements is also a convenient and effective way to nourish your gut.Try introducing a prebiotic to feed the good microorganisms in your gut, as well as a probiotic and glutamine supplement to support your gut microbiome. We recommend Lipa's Gut Health Powder from our private label range, which contains both prebiotics and glutamine. Lipa is here to help you get your gut health in check!
2.Thursby E, Juge N. Introduction to the human gut microbiota. Biochem J. 2017 May 16;474(11):1823-1836.
3.Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ. The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 9;13(3):886.
4.Rowland I, Gibson G, Heinken A, Scott K, Swann J, Thiele I, Tuohy K. Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components. Eur J Nutr. 2018 Feb;57(1):1-24.
5.Valdes A M, Walter J, Segal E, Spector T D. Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health BMJ 2018; 361
6.Appleton J. The Gut-Brain Axis: Influence of Microbiota on Mood and Mental Health. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2018 Aug;17(4):28-32.