September 30, 2023
"Trusting your gut" isn’t just advice on how to make decisions, it's also about how to properly care for your digestive system. As you age, you naturally become more susceptible to various digestive problems that can have a negative impact on your overall health. Let's dive into the why and how of keeping your gut in top shape.
Why Your Gut Matters
Amazingly, approximately 70% of your immune system resides in your gut! So not only is your gut breaking down food into a form that can nourish and sustain you, it’s also acting as a protective shield against harmful organisms. But just like other parts of your body, your digestive system ages too, and various factors such as a poor diet, stress, and a low level of physical activity can hasten this aging process. Your gut's cellular blueprint and the composition of your gut’s microbiome also actually changes over time as well, and can lead to imbalances that can impact your health.
Of course, none of us can bypass aging, but by managing factors like diet and stress, you can avoid or reduce many age-related gut problems. Your body's resilience is truly awe-inspiring, so once you know what to do, you can bring your gut back into balance. This is the true meaning of “trust your gut.”
Common Gut Issues As You Age
Sometimes the signs of an unhealthy gut are obvious: stomach issues - gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn are familiar symptoms of an upset gut.
But skin issues like acne, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis can be connected to the gut too. Food allergies or an unhealthy diet can cause inflammation that allows certain proteins to leak out into your body where they can cause skin irritation and conditions like eczema. Because your microbiome communicates with your endocrine, immune, and nervous systems, it plays a role in both preventing and treating many conditions, including those skin conditions.
Keeping Your Gut Happy and HealthyInflammation that results from intestinal permeability can result in a host of symptoms in the gut and throughout the entire body. Bloating, digestive problems, fatigue, food sensitivities and inflammatory skin diseases are common manifestations of a leaky gut or poor barrier function. Marine collagen reduces the release of inflammatory cytokines (these cytokines are tiny proteins that are released and are responsible for inflammation in the body). The result is reduced inflammation which helps to restore the barrier function of the gut.
Remember, taking care of your gut can really pay off in increased health and wellbeing. So, listen to your gut, both figuratively and literally!
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