In the intricate biological energetic being that is our body, there is a system for each vital pathway. None are perhaps more misunderstood, mis-fed, blamed and underappreciated than our gut. Often dismissed as merely the body’s food processor, our gastrointestinal tract is in fact, the source of health, influencing everything from our mood and energy levels to our immune system and skin health.
The Gut: Your Second Brain
Did you know that your gut is also known as your “second brain”? This is a title earned by the gut’s vast network of neurons that line your digestive tract. The gut-brain connection is real and profound, with constant communication running along the gut-brain axis. Stress, anxiety, and depression can trigger gut issues and vice versa—and is a clear example of this two-way communication in action.
A Hotbed of Immune Activity
Surprisingly, about 70% of your immune system resides in your gut. This is no coincidence. The gut is continually exposed to external substances due to the food we consume, making it a frontline defense against potential pathogens. A well-balanced gut microbiome, the essential workers that live in our digestive tract, therefore, are essential for maintaining robust immunity. Disruptions in this delicate ecosystem can lead to autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions and more frequent infections.
The Gut-Skin Connection
Ever wonder why your skin flares up when your diet goes off the rails with meat and dairy products? The answer lies in your gut. Conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis are often reflections of gut health. When the gut flora is imbalanced, inflammation can increase, hormones can be thrown off, manifesting as skin problems. By caring for your gut, you’re also nurturing your skin, paving the way for a clearer, healthier complexion.
Gut Health and Chronic Disease
Functional medicine views gut health as a cornerstone of preventing and treating chronic diseases. An unhealthy gut can lead to chronic inflammation, which is a root cause of many serious diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, PCOS, Hashimoto’s and more. By focusing on gut health, we can often prevent these conditions before they start or manage them more effectively if they do occur.
How to Support Your Gut Health
So, how do we ensure our gut is as healthy as possible? Here are 5 key strategies:
- Diversify Your Diet: A varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains feeds a diverse microbiome. The more diverse your gut bacteria, the healthier your gut will be.
- Manage Stress: Given the gut-brain connection, managing stress is a crucial part of maintaining gut health. Practices like meditation, yoga, breathwork and regular exercise can help reduce stress and, by extension, support gut health.
- Avoid Unnecessary Antibiotics: Antibiotics can be life-saving but they should be used only when absolutely necessary. They will destroy beneficial gut bacteria along with the harmful ones.
- Test, Don’t Guess: Work with a functional medicine or holistic practitioner to get lab tests done to see the state of your gut health. This can give you an exact roadmap of what harmful overgrowths need to be managed and what beneficial bacteria you need to focus on growing.
- Eliminate animal products: Animal protein does not belong on the pedestal that the meat and dairy industry would like. It increases inflammation of the entire body and causes bad bacteria to grow in the gut making us smell bad, constipated and sluggish. You can get all the protein you need-and it is much less than we have been told-from potatoes, rice, beans and green vegetables. So enjoy!
Introducing the Gut + Skin Reset
Understanding the pivotal role of gut health, we have crafted the 14-Day Delicious Plant-Based Boon Broth Gut and Skin Reset Kit. This specially formulated kit is designed to nourish your gut and, by extension, your bones, joints, hair and skin. Its packed with the goodness of plant protein, 25% calcium, 5% magnesium, fiber, stomach soothers and 72 trace minerals. Boon Broth helps reset your digestive system, helping to reduce inflammation and enhancing skin health.
Embracing good gut health sets the stage for long-term health and vitality. With each sip of Boon Broth, you’re taking a step towards a healthier, more vibrant you from the inside out.
A healthy gut means a happier you!
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