Why should I look after my gut?

4 minute read

Your gut, belly, tummy; is it really that important? Thought it was just for eating food and making poo? Wrong!

Your gut is simply amazing. Firstly, yes, its primary function is to break down the food we ingest, so we can process and use the nutrients it provides. This keeps us alive and moving, out in the world kicking ass every day. Secondly the gut is also a big player on team immunity. Our immune system is a multifaceted system comprising of many different cells and responses. It’s basically our body’s security system that stops us getting sick, and the gut has a massive part to play! Thirdly, several major studies have shown the link between the gut and the brain. Keeping your gut healthy and happy can have a major impact on your emotional wellbeing. If that’s not a good enough reason to take care of it, then think, if you look after the little microbes living in your belly, you tend to fart a little less…

“It’s basically our body’s security system that stops us getting sick, and the gut has a massive part to play!”

Gemma Randles, The Gut Feeling’s Dietitian has written a great piece on how to look after your gut and good bacteria. So let’s focus on immunity and we’ll save the effect of the gut on the emotional well being for our next post.

So, immunity & the gut…

The immune system is basically like a laser security system. You can’t see it, but when a bug crosses a line, the alarm goes off (figuratively, and if you’re hearing bells you might need to get that checked…) and the white blood cells release antibodies – like our body’s security guards or bouncers - to go and take care of the problem.

What is the role of the gut in all of this?

So when we eat fibre, our bodies can’t always digest it. We need the help of our trillions of healthy gut bacteria to break the fibre down via the process of fermentation - yep, the same process that makes beer! Imagine it, our little bacteria friends breaking down these starches, while “I Will Always Love You” plays in the background… all so that we can get the benefit of our fruits, vegetables and wholegrains!

The process of fermentation kicks off the induction of T-Regulatory Cells, (basically wakes these cells up from a dormant state), which are part of our immune system and are responsible for the modulation of our autoimmune response (deciding whether to send antibodies in to battle). Now, just like any system, it can glitch.

“The process of fermentation kicks off the induction of T-Regulatory Cells… which are part of our immune system and are responsible for the modulation of our autoimmune response (deciding whether to send antibodies in to battle)”

Sometimes the body thinks that there is a pathogen, when there isn’t one. The immune response gets triggered and the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. This is known as an autoimmune response. Examples of this include celiac disease, IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) and Diabetes Type 1. T-regulatory cells help stop this glitching and ensure that the immune response is triggered only when it is needed.

So what should I do?

The recommended daily intake of Fibre for an adult is 35 grams per day and most adults in the UK don’t get near this daily figure. So when we curate out Gut Health boxes we make sure we include lots of fibrous goods for your gut to support your immunity. We also make sure they have some live cultures to top up your healthy bacteria for the fermentation!

Written by our biomedical expert, Laura O’Brien