The lining of the gastrointestinal tract that runs from the mouth to the anus is made up of epithelial cells similar to the cells of our skin. Just like we can get cuts, abrasions and issues like eczema that disrupt the protective barrier of the skin - similarly, this can happen in the skin-like lining of the gut, leading to it being more permeable - or leaky - allowing substances that shouldn't be able to enter the bloodstream until they’re further broken down, to enter and set off the internal alarms in our immune system.

Food particles, bacteria and other substances that bypass their usual digestive processes and pass through to the bloodstream undigested trigger inflammatory responses from the body, as it scrambles to put down the threats it’s detecting. If this continues long-term, the end result can be a plethora of health issues that may present differently for everyone but some of the signs might include;

• Chronic fatigue
• Headaches and migraines
• Chronic pain
• Asthma, allergies and eczema
• Poor immunity, chronic infections and sinusitis
• Autoimmunity such as rheumatoid arthritis or Hashimoto’s disease
• Inflammatory gut disorders such as IBS, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis

What’s starting to become clear is that what begins as a gut problem, can quickly cascade into systemic health problems. Due to its close connection to the gut through neural pathways and the enteric nervous system that lines the cells of the gut, the brain is at significant risk when the gut becomes compromised.

Inflammation in the gut can provoke neuroinflammation and impair the availability of nutrients to fuel the brain. This can lead to foggy thinking, poor concentration and even set the scene for neurological damage that can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life.

Don’t underestimate the impact that having a healthy gut will have on the longevity of your brain and nervous system. Life is considerably more enjoyable when you have the mental capacity to concentrate and power through your daily to-do list, and you’re not plagued by a bad mood from a slow and sluggish mind or an unpredictable tummy!

Make it a priority to keep on top of any niggling gut symptoms before they turn into a systemic health issue and always focus on how you can rehabilitate your gut following any gastro infection, or antibiotic use.

There are some easy habits we can incorporate to ensure we build resilience into our gut function and nourish the good bacteria that live there and support our physical and mental wellbeing:

• Make sure you’re well hydrated.
  This is not just about drinking adequate water, but equally about balancing dehydrating beverage consumption such as tea, coffee and alcohol. We can compromise brain function with as little as one to two percent loss of fluids!
  
  
• Feed your microbiome.
  Good bacteria love fibrous foods to fuel their population growth. Make sure you’re eating vegetables - especially leafy greens, brassica and raw carrots to provide the microbiome with quality fibre content. You can also support good bacteria by consuming fermented foods and beverages, like sauerkraut and kombucha.
  
  
• Have a restorative go-to gut supplement on hand.
  We can’t eat and live perfectly every day, so it can be great to have a reliable gut-support supplement on-hand as regular insurance for optimising gut health. Gut Repair™ by myBrainCo. is a comprehensive, award-winning gut healing powder packed with microbiome-loving fibres, soothing anti-inflammatory herbs, pre and probiotics and digestive enzymes in a pleasant-tasting natural drink that’s gentle enough for everyday use.