The Digestive System
Your gut, or digestive system, is made up of your gastrointestinal tract which also includes the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Your digestive system is key to your overall wellness because it breaks down nutrients from food and drinks into parts small enough for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair. Your gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms that live in an ecosystem along the lining of your gut — if these microorganisms are healthy, you have a healthy gut.
While a healthy diet and an active lifestyle should result in proper gut function, many times it does not. Supplements may provide a boost for those seeking to alleviate digestive issues, or just improve overall wellness.
If you are having gut issues such as cramps, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, or stomach pains, it may be time to consider making your gut health a priority. Other symptoms of poor gut function that affect other parts of the body include migraines, joint aches, and poor immunity, among various other symptoms. Supplements may offer some relief and help your gut function the way it is supposed to.
Supplements That May Improve Gut Function
There are many vitamins and minerals that support gut function and the gut microbiome. Focusing on the top four should give you options and information that can help promote your gut health to a level of wellness.
Probiotics
Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body. The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Good bacteria work to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better.
Probiotic supplements are available in a variety of forms including foods, drinks, capsules, pills, powders, or liquids. The 10X Health Probiotic supplements include a unique blend combining multiple strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are a source of food for your gut’s healthy bacteria. They’re carbs your body can’t digest, so they go to your lower digestive tract where they act like food to help the healthy bacteria grow. In addition to providing food for good gut bacteria, prebiotics can:
- Help you absorb calcium
- Change the rate at which foods cause spikes in blood sugar (the glycemic index)
- Ferment foods faster, so they spend less time in your digestive system. That helps you not get constipated.
- Keep the cells that line your gut healthy
Turmeric
There has been a lot of hype about the benefits of turmeric on overall health, and that hype is well deserved. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the active compound (phytochemical) in the common, bright yellow curry spice, turmeric. Turmeric has been shown to support gastrointestinal health in more than just one way.
Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can contribute to healthy digestion. Turmeric, and its active ingredient, curcumin, interact with our gut microbiome by increasing the “good bacteria” in the gut. Curcumin may also be helpful to gut function because it fortifies the lining of the gut that lets nutrients in but keeps harmful bacteria out. This leads to less inflammation in the digestive tract, keeping diseases like colon cancer and IBS at bay.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is of interest when discussing gut function because it has known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Various studies on animal models have shown that vitamin C improves immune health and digestion and inhibits the growth of “bad” bacteria. Vitamin C helps the body synthesize collagen, which forms connective tissues that promote the health of the gut lining.
Your body does not make vitamin C, so it must come from your diet, supplementation, or a combination of the two. Vitamin C is an important nutrient you don’t want to lack in order to support digestion and gut health.
One other way to incorporate vitamin C into your diet is intravenous. Dr. John Myers was the first to introduce vitamins and minerals through IVs in order to potentially treat several clinical conditions. 10X Health offers this same IV therapy, customized for your specific symptoms and wellness goals.
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Why is Gut Health so Important?
Your gut is responsible for breaking down the foods you eat and absorbing the nutrients so your body can function properly. Without proper nutrition, the outlook for your overall health isn’t good. Gut function is important to overall wellness as well, as research is showing that the gut microbiome can affect every organ in your body.
Gut health should be a top priority for overall wellness. Contact 10X Health today to learn more about how to achieve optimal gut function and reach your ultimate wellness!
