Your Gut Health Affects Your Immune System
Digestion and Nutrient Absorption
Breakdown of food: The gut microbiome helps break down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that your body can’t digest on its own.
1. The Microbiome – The Nutrition Source
nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu
Nutrient production: Some gut bacteria produce essential vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamin K and B vitamins. 1. The impact of gut bacteria producing long chain homologs of vitamin K2 on colorectal carcinogenesis | Cancer Cell International
cancerci.biomedcentral.com
Absorption: A healthy gut microbiome aids in the absorption of nutrients from food. 1. Gut health – Better Health Channel
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Immune System Function
Defense against pathogens: The gut microbiome acts as a barrier, preventing harmful bacteria and viruses from entering the body. 1. Microbiota in health and diseases | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy – Nature
www.nature.com
Immune system training: It helps train the immune system to recognize and respond to threats. 1. The Immune System and Microbiome – NCI – National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
Brain Health
Mood and behavior: Research suggests a connection between gut health and mental health, with the gut microbiome potentially influencing mood, stress levels, and cognitive function. 1. Gut-Brain Connection: What It Is, Mental Health, and Diet – ZOE
zoe.com
Neurotransmitter production: Some gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which play a crucial role in mood regulation. 1. That gut feeling – American Psychological Association
www.apa.org
Weight Management
Metabolic rate: The gut microbiome can influence your metabolism, affecting how efficiently your body burns calories. 1. Influence of the Microbiome on the Metabolism of Diet and Dietary Components – NCBI
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Hormone regulation: It may also influence hormones related to appetite and satiety. 1. New study links gut microbiome to satiety – UCLA Health
www.uclahealth.org
Other Health Conditions
Autoimmune diseases: Imbalances in the gut microbiome have been linked to autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 1. Dysfunction of the intestinal microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease and treatment | Genome Biology | Full Text
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com
Skin conditions: Gut health has been associated with skin conditions such as acne and eczema. 1. Eczema and Gut Health: The Microbiome, Probiotics, and Diet – ZOE
zoe.com
Cardiovascular health: A healthy gut microbiome may contribute to heart health by influencing cholesterol levels and blood pressure. 1. Cholesterol-busting gut bacteria may affect people’s cardiac health – Broad Institute
www.broadinstitute.org
In essence, your gut is more than just a digestive organ; it’s a complex ecosystem that plays a vital role in your overall well-being. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome through a balanced diet, adequate hydration, stress management, and probiotics can have a positive impact on various aspects of your health.