Did you know that around 70-80% of the body’s immune cells are located inside the gut? These cells keep a healthy balance of gut microbiota and fight against harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. You may also have noticed that people with digestive issues tend to fall sick quite often. This suggests the possible links between digestive health and immunity.
Read the following blog to learn more about the gut-immunity connection. Also, explore some of the best foods, such as plant protein, nuts, seeds, vegetables, etc., that can help to improve gut health and support immunity.
Gut Health and Immunity Connection
Your gut is also home to more than 200 species of viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. that help regulate your digestive health. These microorganisms maintain a symbiotic relationship with our bodies and support the health of immune cells. An imbalance in these microorganisms can disrupt your gut health and thus affect immunity.
Moreover, poor gut health means your body cannot digest the foods and absorb nutrients properly. Insufficient nutrition can thus affect your body’s ability to fight diseases and infections.
Signs of Bad Gut Health
When your gut health is compromised, your body shows symptoms other than diarrhea, bloating, or constipation. Some of these are:
- Fatigue (as proper nutrients do not reach your body)
- Mood change, stress, and anxiety (poor digestion affects hormonal health and thus may alter mood)
- Frequently falling sick (due to low immunity)
- Nutrient deficiencies (due to improper absorption of nutrients)
- Weight loss (due to hampered metabolism and nutrient deficiencies)
Foods to Improve Gut Health and Immunity
So, it is clear that if you have bad immunity due to poor gut health, you need to address your digestive issues first to boost immunity. Here are some ways to improve gut healthy & happy and so that your immunity is not compromised:
- Eat Adequate Amounts of Vegetables: Vegetables are the most nutrient-dense foods for the health of our gut since they contain essential antioxidants known as polyphenols. These antioxidants activate pathways that reduce inflammatory markers in our body and improve immunity. Aside from that, they also contain insoluble fibers that gut bacteria feed on. Mushrooms, spinach, bean sprouts, lettuce, and peas are great vegetables for improving gut health. You can incorporate foods such as nuts and seeds, such as peanut protein or almond butter, to improve gut health.
- Eating Fermented Foods: Another thing you can think of for good gut health is to eat fermented food. These can be kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and yogurt. These are the best foods of all as they are sources of healthy bacteria.
- Exercise Daily: An everyday run or walk is important to the health of your gut and the rest of your mental and physical well-being. Thus, it’s very important that you do something mildly playful each day.
To Sum Up
Digestive health relies primarily on the balance of gut microbiota. These microscopic life forms have a very close relationship with immune cells. Thus, if your gut is suffering from disorders and you also have weak immunity, you should start working on improving your digestive health. You can consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, along with fermented foods. Moreover, do exercise on a daily basis to improve your digestive health and immunity.
