3 Fascinating Facts About Your Gut That Can Help You Improve Your Whole-Body Health

Unless we're having digestive issues most of us don't give our gut much thought. But maybe we should. Even if the only thing our gut did was digest food it would still be pretty amazing. But the gut does so much more than that. Our digestive system houses a large part of the nervous and immune systems. As such, the gut plays a huge role in mental, emotional, and physical health. If you want to improve your overall health, keeping your gut healthy is a great place to start.

Your Gut Has An Independent Nervous System

Your digestive system contains 100 million neurons in the lining of your esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and colon. That's actually more neurons than is found in your spinal cord! Technically called the enteric nervous system, this system is also known as the gut’s brain. The enteric nervous system often works with the neocortex brain, but it can also function independently. Some scientists call it a "second brain." It can send signals to and receive information from the brain in your head. But it can also work on its own and it has a deep influence on our moods, sleep patterns, decision making, and much more.

Gut Health Is Tied To Your Emotions

The thrill you feel when making a "gutsy" decision. The "butterflies in your stomach" when you're nervous. Those are just two examples of how your emotions are connected with your gut. Your gut's brain can influence how you feel and it also responds to your emotions. For example, if your digestion is compromised your body might produce fewer neurotransmitters, leaving you feeling sad and low-energy. The reverse is also true. When your gut health suffers, your emotional state is one of the first places to look for answers. Stress, anxiety, sadness, and other feelings have a huge impact on the state of your gut. Scientists aren't yet clear on why our emotions can trigger gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and inflammation but the connection is definitely there.

The Immune System Lives In Your Gut

Your digestive tract is home to about 70% of the cells making up your immune system. This might seem odd at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. The gut is where your body processes food, absorbs nutrients, and filters out any harmful things you eat or drink. No wonder there are immune cells lining your gut! Keeping your gut healthy is very important to helping your immune system function properly. One of the keys to supporting gut health is to make sure you're getting both prebiotics and probiotics in your diet. Prebiotics are a special type of fiber that feeds the probiotics-- the beneficial bacteria that make up your "gut flora." You can get prebiotics from foods like Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onions, and banana. You'll find probiotics in fermented foods.

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You can do a lot of good for your gut by focusing on a healthy, clean-eating diet. The better your diet, the happier your gut. And the happier your gut is, the better you're going to feel. Crucial FOUR’s mBreakfast Organic Superfood Powder is the perfect way to kick-start your day and support your digestive health. Not only is it packed full of healthy nutrients, but we also include prebiotics to help keep your gut flora healthy. We also offer probiotics in a “snackable” form as our mRawBliss dark chocolates.