We’ve explored gut health extensively here on Poosh, so we decided to take what we’ve learned and turn it into a digestible (pun absolutely intended) primer on how the gut supports many aspects of health and wellness.
Your gut isn’t just about digestion. She’s got range. Your gut basically acts as the command center for your mood, skin, immunity … even how well you sleep. Whether you’re bloated, broken out, or just feeling a little blah, your gut microbiome may be the missing piece.
Below, we explain it all in three scannable sections.
Welcome to Gut Health 101, taught by yours truly—Poosh. Please find your seats, because class is officially in session.
Vocab Lesson
- Gut-brain axis: The communication network between your gut and brain, affecting mood, cognition, and stress response.
- Neurotransmitters: Chemicals that transmit signals in the nervous system.
- Serotonin: Neurotransmitter involved in a wide range of brain functions, including mood, appetite, memory, and more.
1. Your gut health can affect your mood and vice versa.
The health of your gut can majorly influence your mood because much of your body’s serotonin lives in and is regulated by the gut.
On the other side, the gastrointestinal system is very sensitive to emotion, and feelings like anxiety and stress can trigger symptoms in the gut.
Basically, it can be a real “which came first” situation.
2. Better gut health could mean better sleep.
Like the above, this goes both ways. Gut health can affect how well you sleep, and how well you sleep can affect your gut health. In the gut, serotonin is produced by enterochromaffin (EC) cells, which are found throughout the GI tract. The gut microbiome can influence these cells.
So why is serotonin so important when it comes to sleep? Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. A healthy microbiome helps you produce the right levels of serotonin and melatonin, which support good sleep. In turn, good sleep promotes a happy gut microbiome.
Studies also suggest that people with more diversity in their microbiome experience better sleep than those with little diversity. Eating a variety of plants and probiotic-rich foods can help improve your gut diversity, as well as feed the helpful bacteria.
3. A healthy gut may improve mental clarity and focus.
Gut imbalances (like when the “bad” bacteria outweigh the “good” bacteria), can contribute to brain fog, memory issues, and mental fatigue. See: gut-brain axis.
Supplemental reading: The Connection Between Gut Health and Mental Health
Vocab Lesson
- Microbiome: The trillions of microorganisms, including good and bad bacteria, that live in your gut and influence digestion, immunity, and inflammation.
- Prebiotics: Fiber-rich foods that feed good gut bacteria.
- Probiotics: Live bacteria found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt that help maintain gut balance.
1. A healthy gut supports healthy digestion.
Sure, kind of a “no duh”, but it’s clearly worth mentioning. A diverse gut is a happy gut. And a happy gut supports digestion, helping you break down food, absorb its nutrients, and eliminate waste.
When the bacteria in your gut break down certain types of food like fiber, it produces short-chain fatty acids that help feed the cells in your gut lining. They also make enzymes that are necessary for synthesizing certain vitamins like B12.
A gut that is out of balance can cause symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
2. Plays a role in inflammation
When your gut senses something it doesn’t love (stress, processed food, too many late-night spicy margs, etc.), it sends out an internal SOS, activating the immune system. Inflammation kicks in, and, over time, that disrupts your gut’s delicate bacterial balance and may even compromise the gut lining itself.
Supplemental reading: 5 Reasons Why Your Gut Could Be Mad At You
Vocab Lesson
- Gut-Skin Axis: The direct line of communication between your gut and skin.
- Dysbiosis: An imbalance in gut bacteria that can lead to skin inflammation and breakouts.
1. Healthy gut = healthier skin.
Getting to the root of gut health issues is kinda like the ultimate skincare hack. A healthy gut microbiome can help reduce inflammation and support your skin barrier.
But when your gut is out of balance (think: inflammation, an overgrowth of bad bacteria, or a compromised gut lining) it can trigger skin issues like acne, eczema, rosacea, irritation, and dullness.
In short: If your gut is unhappy, your skin will let you know.
2. Good gut health supports collagen production.
Your gut helps you absorb key nutrients (like vitamin C, zinc, and biotin) that support collagen production. And we’re all about collagen these days, as it helps promote our skin’s elasticity, hydration, and glow.
Supplemental reading: Breaking Out? Time to Check On Your Gut
At the end of the day, your gut health plays a major role in how you look and feel. Tuning in to what your gut’s trying to tell you can help you make little shifts in your routine that can make a big difference.
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The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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