Gut health

Nurture your body’s ecosystem to help fast-track athletic performance and boost wellbeing

Words: Louise Pyne

Your digestive system has so much to do with the way your body functions, going far beyond just breaking down what you eat. The level of good bacteria living in your gastrointestinal tract aff ects your wellbeing, including your motivation to train, your energy levels, your ability to fend off illness and even your muscular strength. “A healthy gut is linked to a wellfunctioning immune system, improved digestion and mood. Research shows that good gut bacteria can alleviate depression and anxiety, so it’s worthwhile taking steps to look aft er your gut,” explains Nature’s Plus nutritionist Olivia Hemingway.

A thriving microbiome

Your nine-metre-long digestive system has a very powerful eff ect on your overall health. The bacteria in your gut act as an ecosystem; your gut hosts many diff erent microorganisms which all impact wellbeing, and the changing environment of your digestive tract aff ects how well this microbiome thrives. “Diverse gut bacteria play a role in our overall health. They metabolise nutrients from food and certain medications, protect the intestines from infection and produce vitamin K, which contributes to normal blood clotting. A lack of bacterial diversity has been identified in people with types 1 and 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, atopic eczema and coeliac disease,” adds Olivia.