When you think of your general health, you don’t always think of your gut. Often we think of joint pain, our weight, general well-being, our mood, or perhaps whether or not we become sick easily. But what if all of those things were controlled by just one thing, your gut? This may seem somewhat surprising, but it is, in fact, very true. The gut has the power to control the vast majority of the functions in our body, and often times it is overlooked or neglected. From the foods that we eat to environmental toxins surrounding us, this delicate ecosystem (microbiome) needs to be handled with care if we are to live the healthiest life possible.

Take a look at this infographic that shows just how powerful the gut truly is. Not convinced? See below for further explanations:

Let me ask you this: Do you wake up feeling tired? Do you feel bloated and uncomfortable after eating? Is constipation and/or diarrhea consistently a problem for you? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, your gut health is compromised and desperately needs an intervention. Our gut is responsible for all of our digestion, the absorption of minerals, elimination of waste… and much more!

Bottom line: An unhealthy gut equals an unhealthy life! Until you get your gut health where it needs to be, you will not experience the vitality that you rightfully deserve.

Serious conditions like Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, colitis, anxiety and even depression can all be controlled by your gut, which is commonly referred to as the “second brain” in our body. It’s this powerful center that sends and receives neurotransmitters to your brain that control your mood and regulate your mental state. Embedded in your intestinal wall is the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), which is made up of 500 million neurons and responsible for 95% of the production and storage of serotonin.

Feel like you are getting sick easily? Have trouble shaking that sickness off? Well, that’s because if your gut is unhealthy you don’t have the ability to ward of illnesses (like the common cold). Your gut protects you from infections and is responsible for over 70% of your immune function! When you introduce toxic foods to your body (like those filled with gluten and deadly GMOs) your gut kicks into overdrive to eliminate these foreign toxins from the body. If your gut is working overtime to eradicate these toxic triggers, it will have nothing left over to fight off potential illnesses.

Tired all the time?? If your gut is overworked this can leave you feeling sluggish, lazy and exhausted. If you are properly rested, there is no reason that you should get that 3 o’clock feeling throughout the day. And do you know why that is?? You guessed it, because your gut health is in danger!