I wish someone had told me about gut health

“I wish someone had told me” is a series of posts that feed into our inquisitive nature at CN&CO. Each week we hear from someone in our network about something interesting or surprising that’s recently happened or occurred to them – or lessons they learnt. These blogs are a way to pay it forward and form part of CN&CO’s belief that the world can be a better place – and we all have a responsibility to make it so. This week’s post is by Blake.

I wish someone had told me about gut health. I’m lying, people told me about gut health, 2 very close friends have spent months seeing specialists but I never really listened because it didn’t affect me.

Well something changed, could it be the change in diet, eating more sugar? Or the change in sports and activity from lockdown? Or even stress.
I don’t know what has triggered it but I do know that an unhealthy gut sucks.

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster from sleepless nights from stomach cramps to extreme fatigue. I wanted to share this blog for those of us who don’t have gut problems to start caring for your gut before its too late.

Why is gut health important?
Some people refer to the gut as the second brain, others refer to it as the doorway to our health and well-being, yet most of us just eat and take our gut for granted.
The gut is an amazing thing, Home to over 100 trillion bacteria. Most of these bacteria are good bacteria, breaking down food to feed the body, with vital vitamins and fatty acids boosting the immune system, anti-inflammatory, vitamins, recovery and energy amongst others.

What are the signs of an unhealthy gut?

• Upset stomach, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea.
• Sleep disturbance
• Fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Food intolerance
• Food cravings, specifically craving sugar in my case.
• Mood issues
• Migraines

How to improve your gut health?

• Take a probiotic, Kifar or Kombucha
• Eat vegetables and fruit, this is easier for your gut bacteria to digest.
• Avoid processed foods
• Avoid artificial sweeteners
• Avoid sugar.

We tend to take things for granted until its too late, I’m sad to say, I have taken my gut health for granted and am paying the price.