Understanding the Gut

In recent years the term ‘Gut Health’ has come to mean having a healthy balance of bacteria within your gut microbiota (GM). We believe that gut health is much more than this, although a healthy and diverse GM is certainly part of it.

The key elements of gut health are:

• An overall state of wellbeing where you enjoy no, or minimal unpleasant digestive symptoms. You may not feel that you are enjoying good gut health if you are feeling uncomfortably bloated every day, or suffering with constipation or diarrhoea or abdominal cramps.
• Where you have no underlying significant digestive condition or disease. It is not so easy for people who suffer with something such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (together known as Inflammatory bowel disease), or indeed IBS, to enjoy good gut health, even if their diet is very good. If you suffer with one of these conditions, the goalposts and meaning of gut health may be a little different than for someone who has no underlying gut condition.
• Where you have a healthy balance and variety (diversity) of your GM.