You might be aware of all the things you should be doing for your gut health—eating the right foods, getting enough sleep, being careful with antibiotics, drinking in moderation, exercising, managing your stress levels, etc. It's a lot to keep in mind, but it's worth it because gut health is just so important. The status of your gut health can affect your whole body, not just your digestion but your mind, skin, immune system, and more.
"Gut health refers to the health and functionality of our gastrointestinal tract, aka our mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus—yep the whole thing," explains Amanda Holtzer, MS, RD, a dietitian at Culina Health. "And each and every single one of us has a unique collection of microbiota that resides within our gut. That microbiota is filled with trillions of types of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea, all of which work together to keep our digestive tract functioning properly and protect us from illnesses—including but not limited to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer."
Gut problems are incredibly common and cause major disruption in quality of life, adds Austin Perlmutter, MD, an author and the senior director of science and clinical innovation at Big Bold Health. In fact, he says that there are between 60 and 70 million people in the U.S. suffering from digestive issues.