When it comes to looking and feeling better the general consensus is to eat better and exercise.  This is definitely good advice in that doing either of these will definitely make you look and feel better and the results are far more dramatic when you do the both together.  But there is something else that also plays a critical role in how we feel and look that is not known by a lot of people.  This is your gut.   The microorganisms that comprise your body’s microflora play a major role in your body both mentally and physically.

A new study by Ucla Researchers proves that probiotics altered brain function in the participants.  As reported by UCLA:

Researchers have known that the brain sends signals to your gut, which is why stress and other emotions can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. This study shows what has been suspected but until now had been proved only in animal studies: that signals travel the opposite way as well.

‘Time and time again, we hear from patients that they never felt depressed or anxious until they started experiencing problems with their gut,’ [Dr. Kirsten] Tillisch said. ‘Our study shows that the gut–brain connection is a two-way street.'”

Due to today’s lifestyle and diet most people’s guts are in very poor shape.   If you eat alot of sugar, refined grains, and genetically engineered food(which most people do)   Also contributing greatly to this is the over use of antibiotics.  Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in your gut.  Besides mental health and function your gut also has an impact on:

1. Immune system function
2. Gene expression
3. Diabetes
4. Obesity
5. Autism

It is estimated that 80% of your Immune System is comprimised in your gut.  So making sure you have a healthy gut is important for disease prevention from everything from the common cold to cancer.

So how do we improve the healthy bacteria in your gut?

1. Avoid processed refined foods
2. Eat fermented, unpasteurized foods
3. Take a high quality probiotic supplement  (do not go on the cheap with this supplement)

As you can see your gut is very important for a lot of things.  It is also important to realize the better you are feeling the more likely you are to start exercising and diet, and are also more likely to stick to it.  This is why I recommend that all of my clients follow the steps to make sure that their guts are in tip top shape!