What Is Inflammation and How Is It Related to Gut Health?
We always hear how inflammation is the culprit of many horrible diseases and how it is a vital part of the human immune system, but first, what is inflammation?
Inflammation is a process by which the body's white blood cells, and the substances they produce protect us from infection with foreign organisms. For example, bacteria and viruses. Chronic inflammation has a role in deadly diseases, including Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and possibly even depression.
Gut Health and The Microbiome
Now how is inflammation related to our gut health? It’s been stated by some researchers that up to 90 percent of all diseases can be traced in some way back to the health of our gut and microbiome.
Each of us has an internal complex ecosystem of bacteria that we call the microbiome. The microbiome indicates the health of our gut. Throughout our lives, we help shape our own microbiomes. This is based off the foods we eat, how we sleep, the amount of bacteria we're exposed to on a daily basis and the level of stress we live with.
Effect of Diet On Gut Health
Diet plays a big role in establishing our gut health and our microbiome’s good bacteria. Our gut health can impact how our body extracts nutrients from our diet and stores fat. It is critical to lower inflammation and supports gut health. Below are listed foods that increase inflammation, as well as foods that can lower inflammation and increase good bacteria in one's gut.
Food That Increases Inflammation
Refined vegetable oils ( canola, corn, and soybean oils)
Refined carbohydrates and processed grain products
Added sugars
Pasteurized Dairy products
Food That Lower Inflammation and Support Gut Health
Probiotics
Fresh vegetables
Whole Fruits
Wild-caught fish, cage-free eggs, and grass-fed/pasture-raised meat
Healthy fats: coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, nuts/seeds
Conclusion
Gut health is an integral part of overall physical health and diet plays a major role in establishing this. It is important to stay away from foods and beverages that increase inflammation and focus on eating those that lower inflammation and increase good bacteria in the gut.