Gut Health & Toxins
How do toxins affect your gut?
You might not connect these dots but the amount of toxins you are subjected to impacts on your gut function!
How? You might ask!
It is all about the Microbiome!
Your gut has its own microbiome, which continues all the way through the digestive system, starting at the mouth and ending at the rectum.
The microbiome is an impressive piece of machinery, but it is susceptible to harm from external sources. There are many different microbes in this microbiome population, and they all perform different tasks. When it is in harmony it works to keep your health in check. When it is not balanced then the possibility of inflammatory issues and chronic disease becomes real.
There is so much that can be discussed around the microbiome, but today I would like to talk about toxins. By toxins I am not necessarily talking about harmful chemicals that you are told to stay away from. I am talking about toxins that you ingest or are putting into your body on a daily basis.
One of the biggest is pesticides, which are found in our foods. This is a tricky subject at the moment due to the cost of living and vegetables being super expensive. But there is a way to reduce these by working of the clean 12 and dirty dozen list.
Some of the other chemicals lie in your personal care products. Take toothpaste, there are some terrible ingredients in most traditional products. One is Triclosan. Triclosan is petroleum derived ingredient which was declared a pesticide in 1969. It is still used as an antibacterial today. It is found in face washes, hand sanitizers, antibacterial products and toothpaste.
There is quite the list of these types of ingredients that affect the gut microbiome. And you can check out the Toxin Free Home booklet here.
So, when the gut microbiome is having to deal with all these environmental toxins it becomes a balancing act. If you are eating and living well, you might not experience any obvious issues. But if you add in stress, sleep issues, and a more processed diet, then eventually over time the balance becomes difficult to maintain.
And step in gut issues!
This will look different to everybody but when the microbiome is struggling the function of the gut will be as well and then you might see:
Gut issues – bloating, nausea, and discomfort
Hormonal Issues
Mood Issues
Thyroid Issues
Immune function issues
Skin issues
Fertility issues
Allergy issues
Food reactions
It is quite the list but also not extensive. So what can you do to help the balance of your microbiome!
You can start with food and ensure you are eating plenty of vegetables as these are full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. Even if you cannot afford to buy organic, some vegetables are better than none.
But you can also think about your toxic load. That is how you can reduce the impact on your body. This can be done by reducing the number of external exposures. Look at the personal care and cleaning products that are around you and see where you can make changes.
By lowering the toxic load (you are never going to totally eliminate it) you allow the body to be able to keep the balance more easily.
If you are suffering gut issues and would like some help, then come in and have a chat! Discovery calls are a free 15 minute chat to discuss what can be done.