Here at Zenwise, we preach that gut health is the key to good health. But understanding WHY we make such a strong claim is an integral part of becoming proactive about your health.

It all starts with the gut microbiome, which is a collection of trillion of bacteria viruses, and fungi. While some are associated with disease, others are critical for your immune system, mood, sleep, heart, nutrition, and even skin health.

According to Everyday Health, your body needs a constantly evolving diversity of gut bacteria throughout your life. And the greater the diversity in the gut microbiome, the better it is for your health.

As more research sheds light on the gut microbiome and its effects on overall health, the reasons not to take your gut health seriously are dwindling.

Read on to learn what researchers have discovered about how your gut impacts multiple aspects of your health. By the end, you’ll understand WHY we say gut health is the key to good health.

Gut & Brain

This two-way communication allows your gut health to impact your mental health and vice versa.

In fact, GI issues and/or an imbalanced microbiome can lead to general anxiety. On the other hand, your mental state can have a short-term impact on your gut.

For instance, when your stomach ties in knots before doing something scary. Chronic stress can also lead to more significant gut issues, like ulcers.

Gut & Immunity

Did you know that 70% of your immune system resides in your gut? It’s true!

Immune cells in the gut interact with the microbiome, the diverse array of bacteria and fungi that live in the gastrointestinal tract and are directly influenced by your diet and lifestyle.

A poor immune response may be a sign of an unhealthy gut.

A study from Stanford showed that those whose gut bacteria levels were lower due to antibiotic use exhibited a lower immune response to a flu vaccine compared to a group with normal gut bacteria.

Gut & Heart

Need another reason to improve gut health? How about your heart! Research suggests that the wrong balance of gut bacteria may affect your blood vessels.

According to a review of studies published in the journal Microbiome, processes related to gut bacteria have been linked to higher risk of heart failure, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries), and major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

Conversely, other bacteria may help reduce cholesterol when taken as a probiotic.

Gut & Sleep

Is bloating, gas, and indigestion robbing you of shut-eye? You’re not alone!

Studies have shown that those who struggle with sleep may have unbalanced gut bacteria. An unhealthy gut microbiome can also mess with your natural circadian rhythm, which can disrupt sleep and leave you feeling tired throughout the day.

Gut & Skin

Research shows that poor gut health can show up on your skin in many ways, from pimples to premature wrinkling. This connection even has a fancy name. It’s called the gut-skin axis.

Gut health symptoms are varied, but skin is often a great barometer for what’s going on inside the gut. Scientists have discovered many links between gut health and issues such as eczema, rosacea, and acne.

Gut & Nutrition

When your gut is out of balance, it affects how well you can digest foods. A healthy gut digests food without problems and in turn, fosters the growth of good bacteria.

A balanced diet is critical for gut health because it fuels your body with the proper nutrients to maintain a healthy digestive system. And when that’s not happening, your health suffers and may impact your metabolism and weight loss efforts.

Five Ways to Keep Your Gut Balanced

So now, are you convinced that gut health is they key to good health? Maintaining a healthy microbiome is clearly important. Here are five ways to improve your gut health.

1. Embrace a diverse diet: Remember you want a diverse microbiome, and that means eating plenty of fiber-rich fruits and veggies, but also legumes and beans, which can promote healthy Bifidobacteria. Cut down on high-sugar, processed foods, too. Also, your GI system needs water to keep things moving. Everyone’s hydration needs are a little different but aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.
2. Eat fermented foods: Load up on fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir, as they all contain healthy bacteria that can reduce the number of disease-causing species in the gut.
3. Avoid artificial sweeteners: It may seem like a good diet option, but those artificial sweeteners like aspartame do your gut no favors. There is some evidence that they can increase blood sugar by boosting the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the gut microbiome.
4. Lifestyle tweaks: Prioritize sleep and lower your stress levels with exercise, meditation, or just plain laughing.
5. Take a probiotic supplement: Quality supplementation can be a great way to help rebalance the gastrointestinal system.

Contact our knowledgeable customer service team for more advice about the best supplements for your individual needs. Reach them at support@zenwise.com or M-F from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST at (800) 940-1972.

And as always, all Zenwise products are backed by the "Eat Freely...or its Free" guarantee!

Zenwise. Then Eat.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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