Poor gut health can create a chain reaction affecting other key systems within our body.

In the first course we learned that we all are bombarded by daily stresses, but how we deal with these situations is of prime importance to our mental and physical health. We learned that some stress is good, but prolonged stress (chronic) is where it can be detrimental to our health.

In this course we will study how the data shared in STATISTICS 101 affects gut health, as well as how gut health creates a chain reaction affecting other key systems within our body.

Chapter 3: Unhealthy Food + Lack of Sleep + Life Stress = Poor Gut Health

Your body’s ability to stay healthy, physically, mentally and emotionally actually begins in your gut. When you combine high caloric junk food, inconsistent sleep patterns, and little to no exercise, with massive amounts of stress we encounter daily, you have the perfect storm to negatively affect the wellness of your microbiome and overall gut health.

A healthy balance of Bacteria
Your microbiome’s ecosystem is as diverse as the Amazon rainforest. Your health depends on the life and vibrancy of this vast and complex network of more than 100 trillion microorganisms that live in and on our bodies. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses.

Unseen by the naked eye, these microbes work continuously to form your innate and adaptive immune system, break down your food for digestion and even influence how much you weigh. Bacteria is especially vital to these processes. While some bacteria are harmful, we also have beneficial bacteria to help keep the bad bacteria in balance.

Importance of Tight Junctions in Intestinal Wall
Inside our bellies, our extensive intestinal lining covers more than 4,000 square feet of surface area. A primary function of our intestinal wall includes acting as a barrier to control what enters our blood stream. Small gaps in the intestinal wall, “tight junctions,” allow water and beneficial nutrients to enter while blocking out harmful substances. These junctions must stay tight to ensure proper health.

Chapter 4: The Chain Reaction that Poor Gut Has on Other Systems

When working properly, your gastrointestinal digestive tract (GI) is a thing of beauty. It breaks down food, absorbs nutrients and protects your body from harmful substances while efficiently eliminating waste. But when your digestive tract is disrupted, it can throw off many systems throughout your whole body, things you would never image are connected. When you consider that 70% of our immune system lives within our digestive tract, you can begin understanding how valuable it is to keep our GI tract healthy and working properly.

The Gut-Brain Axis Superhighway
Our brain and gut are connected by a bi-directional network of neurotransmitters called the gut-brain axis. They talk with one another, carrying vital information back and forth via the vagus nerve. This connection provides feedback about how we think, feel and behave. Many of these neurotransmitters are produced by your gut cells and the trillions of microbes living there.

You may recall from the first course; today’s modern lifestyle can take a toll on the beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome and can cause a chain reaction of health issues throughout the body. This may lead to a weakened immune system, poor mood and contribute to normal digestive issues, including a condition called “leaky gut”—all of which can affect your overall health.

What is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut can be explained much like how a fisherman’s net is supposed to work. If the net is not properly maintained, excessive gaps and holes could occur that allow the fish to go through the net and not get caught, which defeats the purpose of having a net.

This same principle applies to your gut lining if it is not properly supported and maintained; your gut could also develop widened junctions. These gaps allow harmful things to exit the gut and enter your bloodstream. This can cause digestive issues, weakened immune system, poor mood and more.

Next Up!
Stay tuned for the third course, HEALTH & WELLNESS 301. In this course, we will address ways to identify, start and stick to healthier habits to promote total wellness.

Check out dietary products that support a healthy gut:

https://us.mannatech.com/products/gi-biome-system/?account=294898