Ever since the COVID-19 health crisis, the medical community has been raising people’s awareness about the importance of giving attention to their gut health. Giving proper attention to the components of our digestive system should be foremost in our health objectives. As it is, recent medical researches revealed that most complaints of digestive discomforts, from something as simple as stomach upset, gas pains, to the more serious acid reflux and heartburns, could be indicative of serious medical problems
In California, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s Associate Chief of Gastroenterology Dr. Robert Lerrigo, said medical professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the gut microbiome’s significant impact on multiple bodily organs. Previously, digestive disorders were generally considered as affecting only the gastrointestinal tract.
Registered Dietitian Kalee Eichelberger of Orlando Health Regional Medical Center in Florida, explained that gut health relates to the optimal functioning of all components of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Gut health is about the ability of the gut microbiomes in the mouth, the salivary glands, the esophagus, the stomach and the small intestines, to work in synergy with the gallbladder, liver and pancreas. Their collaboration helps the body digest and absorb the different dietary nutrients, vitamins and mineral, down to the processing and excretion of wastes in the anus.
As it turned out, the gut microbiome, which refers to the millions of microorganisms that help in the processing of the food passing through the digestive system, are also implicated in the development of several digestive disorders posing as symptoms to more serious diseases.
This usually happens when the body’s gut health is unable to support an optimally functioning immune system in fighting off bad bacteria invading the gastrointestinal tract. Some representative examples of bad bacteria include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus and Clostridium perfringens.
Nevertheless, health professionals and medical practitioners recommend dietary intakes rich in fiber like fruits, vegetables, fermented foods and probiotic beverages like Megaspore biotic . The latter is highly recommended because when consumed, the food releases biotic spores that can add large amounts of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract; all for the purpose of reinforcing the gut microbiome balance to help strengthen the immune system.
Examples of Common Digestive Tract Disorders Linked to Impaired Gut Health
Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD, which is characterized by inflammation in the digestive system manifested by symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, bloating or abdominal gas pain.
SIBO or Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth is a gastrointestinal tract disorder in which bacteria that should thrive and grow only in the small intestines flourish in other parts of the digestive tract. This is a serious disorder because the misplaced bacteria can cause either diarrhea or malnutrition as the SIBO competes in the absorption of nutrients before they reach other body parts.
Mental Health – Scientists are finding evidences that link between the gut health and the brain. It has become apparent in some studies that an imbalance in the gut microbiome could affect the body’s ability to respond to hormones, which could also be related to feelings of depression, anxiety and if involving older people, dementia particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
Altered Hormone Sensitivity – Altered or imbalances in gut microbiome combined with other endocrine disorders can lead to the body’s impaired ability to respond to hormones, particularly insulin.
Obesity – Recent studies have gathered evidence supporting the presumption that gut microbiome in some people, promotes the development of obesity.