WHAT IS GUT HEALTH
Ideally, organs such as the esophagus, stomach, and intestines all work together to allow us to eat and digest food without discomfort. Inside these organs live about 40 trillion bacteria made up of around 300 to 500 different species that help our bodies process food and maintain correct body balance. While some microorganisms are harmful to our health, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body. Gut health, therefore, is described as the function and balance of bacteria of the many parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Illustration by Abbey Lossing
WHY IS OUR GUT IMPORTANT
Recent studies have discovered that the GI system has an even bigger, more complex job. It has been linked to numerous aspects of health that have seemingly nothing to do with digestion, from immunity to emotional stress to chronic illness, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
Since most of the bacteria found in our body live in our guts, studies have shown that when the gut works as it should, bacteria that fight (or promote) inflammation are kept in check. They are more likely to carry out their specific functions as they should.
Luckily, there are a number of ways you can take care of your gut health, and one of them is drinking Purely, a fruit/herb/botanical-infused apple cider vinegar concentrate on a regular basis. Apple cider vinegar has long been known to aid gut health, and the addition of the different organic fruits and herbs make it the perfect gut-health companion for anyone. Yes, anyone! Because Purely is non-alcoholic and has 0 caffeine content, it is 100% adult and kid-friendly!
WHAT AFFECTS GUT HEALTH
The food we eat plays a huge role in the bacterial makeup of our gut. However, there are other factors including the nature of birth, environment, emotional stress, and medications.
SIGNS OF AN UNHEALTHY GUT
When the balance of bacteria inside our guts is thrown out of balance, there are ways an unhealthy gut manifests itself. Here are seven of the most common signs:
- Upset stomach
- A high-sugar diet
- Unintentional weight changes
- Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue
- Skin irritation
- Autoimmune conditions
- Food intolerances
WAYS TO IMPROVE GUT HEALTH
You don’t have to know exactly what’s going on in your gut all the time. But following doctor’s orders for overall health such as following a balanced diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and getting a good night’s sleep, would likely benefit your microbiome. Aside from these, there are a few recommended food variations that are also known to improve our gut health such as fruits and vegetables, fermented food, and of course, prebiotics and probiotics (which Purely contains).
If you’re looking for more ways to incorporate Purely into your diet, we have a lot of recipes for you on our blog to make tonics, mocktails, cocktails, and even salads and other dishes!