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Although we hardly ever think about it, our digestive systems are continuously working, turning the food we eat into fuel for our bodies, and so much more.
Your digestive system is an important structure that comprises the gastrointestinal tract (which includes your mouth, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines) as well as other organs that assist with digestion, like the pancreas, gallbladder, liver, and salivary glands. Its primary function is to break down foods into the vital building blocks our bodies need to survive, grow, and thrive.
Because there are so many organs involved in our digestive systems, and because what we eat is so integrally connected to our wellbeing, it’s easy to see that our digestive health would be closely related to our overall health. Here’s how digestive health can impact your overall wellbeing and how a healthy diet and good quality supplements can help.
Why is the digestive system important?
All life relies on nutrients to survive, and the only way our bodies can absorb these vital elements is via the digestive system. As humans, unless we can digest and absorb nutrients efficiently from the food we eat, we won’t survive.
The digestive system uses enzymes to break down everything we eat or drink into useful components like proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Our blood stream then moves these components to different parts of the body, where they are used as energy, to build muscles, repair cells, and more. Even the medicines we take rely on the digestive system to work.
The live bacteria in our digestive systems also have a critical role to play, digesting food, regulating the functioning of our immune systems, and positively influencing our cognitive health.
At the same time, the digestive system also separates the good from the bad when it comes to nutrition. Once it has absorbed the necessary nutrients from our meals, the rest passes out as waste. Without effective waste management and a functioning digestive system, our bodies would be exposed to a host of toxins.
Eating for good digestion
When your digestive system is functioning at its best, you have regular bowel movements, and you shouldn’t experience discomfort from symptoms like gas, bloating, heartburn or indigestion.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to preserve your digestive system’s health is to look after the ‘good bacteria’ that help to balance the richness and diversity of your gut microflora. Foods that are high in fibre like fruits, nuts, vegetables, and wholegrains are essential to keep things running smoothly. Fibre is also important because it is a prebiotic – a substance that feeds the good bacteria in our gut and decreases the bad bacteria.
Probiotics are the actual living good bacteria that, when they are in balance, support our health, including our gut health.
If you’re concerned about getting the balance right, a good quality prebiotic and probiotic supplement can help ensure your body’s getting what it needs. It can also help to avoid overprocessed foods and refined sugar, as these can affect your digestive tract’s health and impact digestion.
The benefits of good digestive health
When your digestive system’s operating at its best, you can function at your best. These are some of the ways good digestion boosts your health:
- Healthy weight maintenance
- Enhanced mental clarity
- Better elimination of toxins
- More energy and stamina
- Improved nutrient absorption
- Regular, consistent bowel movements
- Fewer mood disturbances
- Functioning immune system
With so many benefits, prioritising the health of your digestive system is a must for overall wellbeing. A balanced diet, supported by quality nutritional supplements, is one of the most effective ways to look after your digestive tract so that it can look after you!
This post and content is sponsored, written and provided by Herbalife Nutrition.
