How Your Gut Health Affects Your Whole Body
You may be surprised by how your digestive health affects your physical and mental health.
There are tens of trillions of bacteria in your gut. In fact, there are more bacteria within your digestive tract than there are cells in your body. Some of this bacteria are necessary for good health, while others can be harmful to your body and mind. This collection of bacteria, often referred to as the gut microbiome, affects just about every aspect of your health in some way.
How Your Gut Affects Your Health
Of course, what happens in your gut affects conditions related to your digestive system. If your microbiome is off, you may experience symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. Or you may have chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, malabsorption or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), among others.