Our gut is home to an ecosystem of bacteria, called the microbiome, which is influenced by the food we eat. Alcohol, junk food and sugar can reduce levels of beneficial bacteria and cause bad bacteria to thrive. This imbalance in gut bacteria is called dysbiosis.

Medications, stress and traumatic events can also disrupt the microbiome and cause dysbiosis. Symptoms such as bloating, constipation, flatulence and loose stools can all be signs that you have dysbiosis. This imbalance can affect our ability to breakdown foods and absorb nutrients, which inturn can affect the functioning of our immune system and nervous system. This is important as neurotransmitters (used by our nervous system), influence our mood.

The bacteria in our gut communicates with the brain via the vagus nerve, sending information signals back and forth. Therefore gut bacteria can reinforce or prolong an emotional state and research suggests that depression and other mental health conditions are strongly linked to gut bacteria. So learning how to nurture and maintain a healthy microbiome is really important for our mental health and overall wellbeing. 

To understand more about your gut health and any underlying issues you may have, you should contact your healthcare provider for advice. 

We hope you found this information useful!

Why is our Gut Bacteria so important?

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