You call it the gut, bowel or intestine. It is a very crucial organ directly connected to emotions and energy. In one way, the whole world drama is about "food"; many civilizations are built on agrarian principles. The importance of food and its processing inside is always a crucial matter.
The alimentary canal, or gastrointestinal tract, is the long tube of organs that starts from the mouth through the esophagus, stomach, and intestines to the anus. Let’s understand the processes of mechanical and chemical digestion and absorption in detail.
Gut Function
The role of gut function starts in the mouth, when you eat. The tongue pushes the food into your throat, passing it into your esophagus. With brain signals, the muscles of the esophagus proceed to peristalsis. When food reaches the end of your esophagus, the esophageal sphincter relaxes and lets food pass into your stomach. This sphincter blocks the stomach from flowing back into your esophagus.
The stomach muscles mix the food and liquid with the digestive juices. The stomach slowly empties its contents into a pulpy acidic fluid, called chyme, into the small intestine.The small intestine helps in further digestion. The small intestine walls absorb water and the digested nutrients into your bloodstream. As peristalsis continues, the waste products move into the large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water and changes the waste containing undigested parts of food, fluid, and older cells from the lining of your GI tract from liquid into stool. Peristalsis in the system helps move the stool into your rectum, which is present at the end of the large intestine. The rectum stores stool until it pushes stool out of your anus.
You would ask then where the good bacteria's role comes into action. Don’t worry, we are coming to it.
Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota is the community of microorganisms living in the GI tract. The GI tract has a massive area with approximately 100 trillion micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, called the "gut flora".
Though you are born without bacteria, they inhabit the body within seconds of your birth. They live in your mouths, around your eyes, in your digestive system, under your arms, under your feet, in your palms, and in the shoots of your hair too. Most are helpful, and some are minimally harmful. The bacteria in our gut, mostly in the large intestine, help us digest all manner of food.
Studies and research say, the bacteria inside the gut can influence maturation, immune system development, metabolism, and the production of essential bio-compounds. Hence, when there is an imbalance in the gut environment or a lack of good bacteria, i.e., probiotics, it is an unhealthy gut. The gut is the target of daily assault. A long term disturbed gut flora may lead to "dysbiosis". Hence, at intervals, we need to reinforce the gut flora for the overall gut well-being.
Our bodies can be wildly mysterious and complex. Many people don’t know that there are simple, specific, studied ways to improve your health and most of them have to do with the gut. This is because your body relies on good bacteria to regulate the digestive system, support immunity, serotonin (one of the happy hormones) production, and much more.
The major reasons for disturbed gut health
Diet, lifestyle, genetic reasons, and certain environmental factors can negatively affect your gut bacteria. However, the major reasons are;
Missing-out diverse range of foods
Fast and junk food.
Lack of prebiotics through diet or supplements
Excessive alcohol consumption
The use of antibiotics frequently
Inadequate amount of exercise/physical movement
Smoking
Sleep deprivation
Stress and anxiety
All these reasons negatively affect gut health. However, food habits are one of the primary and sensitive reasons that one needs to take under consideration at first hand to resolve many gut issues. We have discussed widely the worst foods for the gut in one of our articles, which you can read here.
Did you know that new research is finding more evidence that sugar and sweeteners might be killing off some of the good bacteria! Likewise, junk food, soft drinks, too much alcohol consumption, red meat, smoking, and use of antibiotics can all aggressively affect gut health.
Everyone at some point experiences digestive problems such as abdominal pain, bloating, loose motion, constipation, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting. When symptoms persist, it may be a sign of an acute problem that needs a doctor's visit. In some cases, it goes to severity. For example, during the monsoon, an upset stomach is a common threat.
Today’s lifestyle, food quality, type, and stress level are some of the unavoidable matters. However, we have to be cautious about our healthy lives. Let’s understand how bad gut health can be reversed.
How to restore healthy gut flora
There is no such thing as a clean gut diet. Naturally, your gut cleans itself. But if you abuse it frequently, it makes it difficult for it to be clean and fit. Be aware of the assault your gut is under and restore its health through proper lifestyle, food habits, and probiotic supplements.
To know the healthy diet for a good gut, you may read our article "Food That You Need For Better Gut Health" here. A healthy diet combined with probiotic supplements can balance your gut’s good bacteria by replenishing what is killed off by wrong habits, environmental factors, food practices, or due to the intake of antibiotics. Note that in cases of antibiotic intake, probiotics can also prevent the most common side effect, antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Probiotic supplements are generally safe. They are especially helpful afterwards to support the recovery of your gut microbiome. Probiotics combat the effects of antibiotics on good gut bacteria. WonderPro, the super probiotic, is one of the supplements containing the power of five essential probiotics. The best attribute of WonderPro is that it is sugar free and dairy free. People with diabetes, vegans, lactose intolerance, and dairy allergies can consume it without any fear.
The body takes time to balance the microbiome for healthy, diverse bacteria levels. In fact, research shows that it takes about 6 months to recover from the damage done by antibiotics.
The famous and friendly bacteria are:
Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast, combats bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections.
Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic bacterium that ensures better mineral absorption, Also, best known for being in yogurt is also great for your gut.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus balances intestinal flora and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria.
Bifidobacterium longum helps digestion and improves nutritional status.
Bacillus coagulans enhance the immune function of intestinal mucus.
WonderPro, a super probiotic, contains all these good bacteria to reverse your gut health. Let’s imbibe super health with super probiotics.