The digestive system is central to our health and wellbeing
The digestive system is comprised of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and associated organs including the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. The GIT is a long tube which runs from the mouth to the anus, including the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Its main job is to break down the food we eat into macro and micronutrients and to absorb and assimilate these nutrients into the body – nutrients which are integral to the function of every other organ and system in the body.
The gut is often referred to as the second brain. We produce 70-80% of our neurotransmitters in our gut, including 95% of all serotonin. Brain and gut tissue are very similar as they are both formed from the same foetal tissue. And we know that our digestive health affects our emotions and mental health.
Our gastrointestinal system also plays a huge role in our immunity. The two main reasons for this are that the GIT is the main route of contact with the external environment, and 70% of our immune system lies in the gut!
In addition, the large intestine holds around 2kg of bacteria. This is called our gut flora, gut bacteria, or microbiome. The microbiome is comprised of both “good” and “bad” bacteria, and the ratio of the different strains determines many aspects of our health. For optimal health, we want a very diverse community of gut bacteria. The microbiome actually makes some important nutrients, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), B vitamins, proteins and antioxidants.
Dysbiosis (an abnormal balance of bacteria) and lack of bacterial diversity are known to contribute to many health conditions including anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, psychiatric disorders, skin disorders, allergies, nutrient deficiencies, chronic infections and under or overactive immunity to name just some.
Our digestive health is integral to our overall health and vitality. It is for this reason that I will always ask you about your bowel function and any digestive symptoms you have. If there are any imbalances in your digestive function, they may be contributing to your health issues, and it’s important we correct them as a priority.