The efficiency of your gut is bedrock to good health and research has begun to show that this may go way beyond digestion.

Like a sorting office, your gut is responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients for delivery around the body and then managing waste. In a perfect world this should be a flawless operation, but the reality is that many people experience the side effects of poor digestion which include bloating, excess wind and constipation. Diet and lifestyle also have a role to play in many gut conditions including IBS.

The microbiome

The term ‘microbiome’ refers to an ecosystem of microorganisms that live in and around the body, most of which reside in your gut. These microbes act as a protective barrier against foreign invaders with the potential to harm our health. We all have a unique microbiome comparable to our fingerprint which is defined by the environment both within and around us.

The bacteria found in our gut are essential for efficient digestion and also help to digest antioxidant polyphenols (shown to help reduce the risk of disease) and synthesise vitamins such as B12, D, folic acid and thiamine.

New and evolving research has also begun suggesting that the diversity of bacteria in your gut may even influence mental health and play a role in obesity by way of the gut-brain axis.

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