Happy gut, happy life! Our gut health tells us a lot about our overall health. They are called our second brain for a reason. Are you curious why our intestines are so important? How do we measure gut health? And how do you support your gut? Orthomolecular and gut therapist Marieke Kok explains it in this article.
Gut as a mirror of our health
In the health of the body, the intestinal flora (also called gut microbiome) plays an important role. The intestinal flora works together with the immune system; if it is healthy, it stimulates the immune system. But a healthy intestinal flora also ensures good digestion, so that we absorb our nutrients properly.
The gut can become unbalanced when there are too many bacteria in the gut that should not be there in large numbers. If these incorrect bacterial colonies become too large, they can also cause complaints, due to the waste products these bacteria produce. These complaints can manifest in various ways, such as: headaches, bloating, skin complaints, fatigue, constipation and many other complaints. It is therefore very important that we strengthen our intestinal flora and ensure our diet is in order.
To measure is to know!
Because our gut health is so important, we also offer you the opportunity to have your intestines examined. What is really going on with your gut health?
In the gut examination, we can not only see whether there are many good or bad bacteria present, but also which bacterial strain, for example, is dominant in your case. We can also see how digestion works and whether, for example, there is too much fat or protein present in the stool. In addition, the study shows the condition of your intestinal lining, whether there are inflammatory markers active and which ones they are. Furthermore, your gut flora influences certain health risks, which the test will show. This way, we can see the state of your gut health and provide targeted nutrition and lifestyle advice .
How to support your gut
By now, the importance of our gut health should be clear. How you care for your gut has a huge impact on your gut health. No idea where to start? I've put together some important tips for you:
- Avoid sugar, coffee and alcohol; your gut flora doesn't like them.
- Eat varied and seasonally; preferably get your fruits and vegetables from the local farmer.
- Create a healthy environment in the intestines by eating plenty of antioxidants; think of everything with color and taste such as berries and seeds.
- Sufficient fluid keeps your stool soft; drink plenty of water, herbal tea and soup
- Ensure sufficient fiber, super important for your gut health. Vary between soluble and insoluble fibers. Insoluble fibers are fibers you have to chew on (think broccoli, carrots, nuts, etc.) The soluble fibers are mainly pumpkin, sweet potato, parsnip, etc. Gradually increase your fiber intake, your gut needs to get used to it.
