Your Gut Health is Hurting your Brain and Body
Taking care of the gut can offer many benefits to the body and brain. The gut is also known as the gastrointestinal tract which consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. Having a healthy gastrointestinal tract (GI) has some importance to all things living for animals and humans. What affects the GI is based on the individual’s diet, and how much care is provided to the body. This is crucial since the GI can affect the subject’s ability to function mentally and physically. In layman’s terms, a healthy GI would be much better than an unhealthy GI.
Topics
- Healthy GI vs Unhealthy GI effects.
- Organism’s roles and responsibilities.
- Developing a healthy gut.
Healthy GI vs. Unhealthy GI
There are many reasons why a healthy gut is beneficial. In some Asian countries, it is encouraged to have a healthy gut. For instance, the Japanese refer to the abdomen as the location of the soul. “Honored middle” and “center of the spiritual and physical strength” are how the Japanese describe the largest organ. Some foods from Asia tend to be healthy for the gut such as kimchi, tempeh, miso, and pho (the broth). People who consume foods like these will function better mentally and physically. They are more likely to be less prone to illnesses and will live longer. Here is a list of benefits on why having a healthy GI has a positive impact.
- Reduces the risk of depression and anxiety.
- More energy.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- No irritable bowel diseases or inflammation.
- The nervous system functions properly.
- No gastroesophageal reflux disease or other gastric inflammatory diseases.
There are a plethora of benefits to having a healthy GI. There are too many to list, but these are the most important ones to be aware of.
To keep it simple, the individual with an unhealthy GI will experience the opposite of the list above. The person will experience suffering because of an unhealthy GI. They can undergo constipation, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, and more.
Organism’s roles and responsibilities
Microbiota
There is an organism called the microbiota and it is responsible for protecting the intestine against colonization by exogenous pathogens. The microbiota contributes to energy homeostasis, impedes mucosal infections, and can possibly alleviate immune system hypersensitivity. It also maintains the GI barrier and the protection to the barrier which is important.
GI Barrier
GI barrier is comprised of the epithelial, mucosal immune system, enteric nervous system, and tissue matrix. The GI barrier protects against potential dangers for the GI lumen moreover, it allows food and liquid uptake. It also communicates with commensal bacteria (microbiota) to defend and prevent colonization by any invading pathogens. It also provides immunity tolerance against harmless bacteria.
- Epithelial: tissues are widespread throughout the body. They form the covering of all body surfaces, line body cavities, hollow organs, and are the major tissue in glands. They perform many different functions that include protection, secretion, absorption, excretion, filtration, diffusion, and sensory reception.
- Mucosal immune system: A portion of the immune system that protects an organism’s various mucous membranes from invasion by potentially pathogenic microbes.
- Enteric nervous system: one of the main divisions of the autonomic nervous system and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract
Microbiome
There are also microbiomes and they are imperative for human development, immunity, and nutrition. There is a slight difference between microbiota and the microbiome. The microbiome is an accumulation of genomes (our DNA) from all the microorganisms in the environment. Microbiota (Primarily found in the gut) are microorganisms that are located in certain environments which include bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Generally, microbiomes can be found on the skin, nose, and other areas in the body. There are many bacterias within the body, but there is no need to worry about it since they are not harmful. However, unbalanced diets, antibiotics, and stress can cause an issue with these bacteria. If a negative impact occurs it can also affect the immune system from functioning properly. Which can make the individual vulnerable and susceptible to antigens (antigens are substances that can be viruses, bacteria, or other foreign invaders to the body). The GI immune system has receptors such as T-cell receptors, toll-like receptors, and other pattern recognition receptors. With these receptors, they are able to identify bacterial antigens.
Developing a Healthy Gut
Now being aware of what the gut and microbiomes do for the body and for the individual’s well-being. It is crucial to be aware of what to consume and what not to. Foods containing probiotics and prebiotics are beneficial to the bacteria located in the GI. Probiotics are live cultures (good bacteria) that support gut health. Prebiotics are fibers that provide nourishment to the already living good bacteria in the large intestine. Some foods were mentioned earlier in the post to support gut health. Here are more:
- Non-dairy yogurt.
- Ginger.
- Fermented foods (tempeh, kimchi, tofu).
- Berries.
- Fruits.
- Vegetables.
What to avoid:
- Refined carbohydrates and sugars (Processed foods).
- Fried food.
- Alcohol.
- Dairy.
- Smoking.
Overall, it is always best to evade what is harmful to the body since it affects the person’s mood. Stress can also be a factor in hurting what is inside. So, there are other solutions to incorporate in handling stress.
- Exercise (As long it is not strenuous)
- Cold showers
- Take a walk: Walking clears the mind and promotes better sleep.
- Stretch the neck and the back: these areas hold the most tension.
Wrap up!
All in all taking care of the body and the mind has a positive impact on the person. The GI appears to be the central control on how it affects the person’s mental and physical performance. As long as the microorganisms are being taken care of it will take care of the body and the brain. In order to achieve this one must have a balanced diet and manage their stress levels.
The phrase “if you take care of your body, it will take care of you” did not make sense since not many exactly knew how to and why. More importantly, not many understood the mechanics since the cells and the good bacteria need to be well-nourished. This is what is supporting the health of the brain and body.
The brain and body must serve you rather than you feeling pain from it!
Sources:
Gut health: a new objective in medicine?
Gut microbiome-Mediterranean diet interactions in improving host health
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