IS YOUR GUT HEALTH IMPACTING YOUR IMMUNE HEALTH? HOW TO BOOST WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM NATURALLY?

As a child, in times of distress, the first thing I used to do was to rush into the toilet. Because stress meant an instant rumble in the tummy. I will not be surprised if you still find yourself in one such situation often. If you feel bloated all the time, irregular bowels and loss of appetite is a regular feeling, I insist you keep reading. This piece might be just the one you have been looking for! 

Did you know? About 70% of your immune system is part of your gut! Now, it will not be wrong to say that the term “trust your gut” is the idle quote to define the state of your physical and emotional well-being. The state of your gut helps determine how you feel. A balanced gut bacterium keeps you happy while disruption in the gut makes you feel grumpy, irritable making way for various lifestyle and chronic diseases like a weak immune system, autoimmune diseases, weight fluctuation, constipation, mood disturbances, and food sensitivities.

What most of you want to ask me at this point, “Does the immune system depend on your gut health?” The job of our gastrointestinal tract is to digest and absorb nutrients from the food and expel the waste. Because our intestines are inside our bodies, most people do not realize that it forms a protective barrier between our bloodstream and the external world.

The gut must deal with the pathogens in everything you ingest and therefore need to have an effective immune system in place to ward off attacks and prevent illness. Boosting the action of the immune cells are certain strains of gut flora that prevent pathogens from being absorbed. Therefore, it is so important to have colonies of “good” bacteria in the gut. In fact, without the right balance of gut flora, your body cannot maintain immune health. What are the signs that can help you understand your gut health?

* Feeling discomfort in the stomach (diarrhea, gas, bloating, constipation)

*  Craving for sugary foods

*  Skin inflammation (allergies, persistent acne, hair loss in patches)

*  Autoimmune conditions

*  Migraines

*  Joint pain

*  Chronic fatigue

*  Unexplained change in weight

*  Mood swings

Now that we know, how important your gut health is for the immune health, what should you do to restore your gut health?

Avoid processed foods

Eating out of packet or what we call as “processed food” can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This tract is where most of your food gets absorbed and many a time the gut may not recognize these foods that are generally high on fructose as digestible and treat many such preservatives and ingredients as an “attacker”.  Talk to your nutritionist for a personalised nutrition program that can help you get an insight into gut-friendly foods.

Avoid gluten

For people who think, gluten-free food is a fad! Well, sorry to break this to you but there has been enough evidence to prove that gluten is one of the prime reasons for the leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut is a condition where the harmful bacteria and waste along with undigested food can pass through the compromised lining of your intestines and get into the bloodstream causing diseases and inflammation. Wheat, unfortunately, has become an inseparable part of the Indian eating system however grains like buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, rice ad millet can be a great replacement to gluten.

Load up on prebiotics

Prebiotics are dietary fibers that feed the good bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics has proven to be helpful in resetting an altered gut flora. Some of the easily available prebiotics are onions, garlic, asparagus, bananas, and legumes. You may also want to read more about Prebiotics and Probiotics.

Make fermented foods your friend

As much important prebiotics is for the gut, your gut needs an equal number of probiotics to keep the system strong. Fermented food and beverages are readily available in some of the leading retail stores and the best thing will be to befriend kombucha, kefir, kimchi, saukernaut, miso, and tempeh. These foods have live cultures that can help your gut break down foods and are considered superfoods for the immune system.

Manage your stress

Many people when they are under stress losses their appetite and feel discomfort in the stomach. Chronic stress can be hard not only on your gut health but your immune system. It is always advisable to sleep better and meditate to keep your stress levels low. Along with the necessary lifestyle changes, you should always consult stress and anxiety for expert advice.

METABALANCE’S APPROACH TO RESTORING YOUR GUT HEALTH & REJUVENATING YOUR IMMUNITY!

If you like many of our clients are thinking on the lines of, How to increase immunity? How to boost immunity? How to boost immunity in COVID 19? How to boost the immune system naturally? then you are in for a treat! Metabalance Healthcare follows a holistic approach to healing. Our gut and immunity experts on the panel understand that each body, mind, and soul is different and so is their response. Gut health is one of the many elements of restoring one’s immunity. Metabalance’s rejuvenate your immunity program is among one of the most well-researched and comprehensive programs available to the client tailor-made as per their individual requirements.

Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions mentioned in the article have been written for general awareness and should not be considered as professional medical advice. We strongly recommend you consult your doctor or an expert before starting any fitness regime, diet changes, or making any lifestyle changes that affect your physical or emotional health.