Referred to as the body’s “second brain”, the gut is a booming research area right now. But why is it so important? “A healthy, well-functioning gut gives a good indication of how things are ticking over in the body,” says Nickie Hursthouse, a registered dietitian specialising in gut and digestive issues. Scientists have found that the health of your gut – including the diversity and activity of your gut microbes – influences your wellbeing in multiple ways.
“Our gut plays a major role in regulating our immune system, so when it’s not working properly, it can definitely impact how well our body can fight infections,” says Hursthouse. The science shows that good gut health can lower the risk of developing bowel cancer – and developing research even suggests a link between the food we eat, inflammation and our blood vessels, which could affect our risk of heart disease.
Just as vitally, gut health has been shown to
