Take care of your digestion. Take care of yourself.
Nervousness. Discomfort. Butterflies in the stomach. We’ve all heard these terms used to describe our “gut feeling” when we’re worried, excited or stressed. But how does our gut know and respond to what we think and feel? Scientists believe that the digestive system is more than just the place where the body receives and absorbs nutrients. The digestive system also functions as a kind of centre for communication to and from the brain, and is one of the first lines of defence against disease. Our gut thus plays an important role, not only in our digestive health, but in our overall health and well-being.
The gut has a number of important roles in maintaining and protecting our overall health and well-being, starting with the intake and absorption of nutrients and water. It is this digestive process that provides the building blocks the body needs to live, to function normally and to stay healthy – from producing energy to balancing hormones, from maintaining skin health to mental health and even removing harmful substances and metabolic waste products.
Healthy digestion is the foundation of well-being and mental health
According to many scientists, the gut serves as a communication centre for the brain, ensuring not only optimal digestion but other important health functions as well. The brain is often considered a part of the digestive system, as it is in constant communication with the gut.
The gut sends information to the brain, which in turn tells us what to eat and drink, when, how much and how fast. The gut and the brain are both involved in the digestive process. For example, when we consume a particularly fatty meal, the gut and the brain have a “talk” and decide to keep that food in the stomach for a bit longer than with a lighter meal. Only when the food has broken down sufficiently will it be sent to the small intestine for further processing.
In addition, both the brain and the gut play a key role in regulating our stress levels and our mood or state of mind. The gut can signal the brain about a stressor and the brain will do the same for the gut. Not only is the gut filled with nerve cells that receive and transmit information to the brain, but it also produces more than 90% of the body’s serotonin, the hormone that helps regulate our mood – that is, our feelings.
When our digestion is impaired, i.e. not functioning at its best, our body may not produce enough neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Low serotonin levels are often associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
The first line of defence against illness
The gut is one of the human body’s core disease-fighting systems. The digestive system is home to the gut microbiome – a community of many different types of bacteria that play a key role in fighting disease and preserving health. We each have our own unique mix of bacteria, or a microbiome “fingerprint”.
Approximately 80% of our immune system cells are located in the gut, so keeping our digestive system in top condition is key to dealing with a wide range of health problems. This is why it’s so important to remember that the immune system is not a separate thing. Indeed, many of our body’s systems work closely together to maintain optimal health. Through the digestive system, we introduce nutrients that are then used by the body to strengthen the immune system and fight disease. It is therefore very important to maintain digestive health, as this is how we take care of our overall health.
One system that is particularly important for our overall health is the digestive system – a powerful, yet delicate ecosystem that hosts around 80% of our immune system cells. Today’s fast-paced lifestyles, poor dietary choices, lack of physical activity, high levels of stress and poor sleep are just some of the factors that result in reduced digestive system function and, in turn, reduced immune function. Every part of the body, including the digestive and immune systems, works better when we support it with a healthy lifestyle. This is the natural way to preserve their strength. Regular digestion and lifestyle changes are a great support for the normal functioning of our digestive and immune systems, and the best strategy for maintaining overall health. If our digestive and immune systems are strong and healthy, we can successfully handle the many daily challenges we face.
Healthy digestion and obesity
Excess weight can have a number of negative health consequences. It affects our energy levels, mood, hormones, cognitive function and even immunity. Many scientists have therefore come to the conclusion that healthy digestion – that is, a good balance of beneficial gut bacteria – has a strong impact on overall health, including reducing the risk of excess weight and obesity. Conversely, an imbalance in the gut microbiome can contribute to weight gain.
Our gut bacteria can regulate the way we digest different foods, while also producing certain chemicals that make us feel full. As a result, they can affect our weight. Because gut bacteria come into contact with the food we eat, they can also influence which nutrients are absorbed and how energy is stored in the body.
For example, while humans cannot digest fibre, some gut bacteria can. By digesting fibre, these gut bacteria produce a number of substances that are beneficial for gut health and may even promote weight loss, according to some research.
Finally, gut bacteria can influence how dietary fats are absorbed, which may in turn affect how fat is stored in the body.
While more research is needed in this area, it is important to keep in mind that healthy digestion and a balanced microbiome contribute greatly to reducing the risk of obesity, and thus the risk of a number of diseases.
Healthy digestion and cognitive function (memory and concentration)
Many studies have confirmed that the digestive system and the brain communicate with each other through several pathways, which we refer to as the gut-brain axis. Every year, there is more evidence of the link between gut dysbiosis – or an imbalance in the microbiota – and neurological/psychiatric diseases. On the other hand, specific diets and dietary habits can have a positive impact on the composition of the microbiota, and so contribute to improving cognitive functions, which are important for any learning process.
Take care of your digestive system with Donat
We have shown that healthy digestion is extremely important for overall health, as it affects our mood, strengthens the immune system, helps us maintain a healthy weight, and positively influences cognitive function, among other things. It is therefore important that we take good care of our digestive system.
We can do this by drinking Donat Mg natural mineral water, which is clinically proven to benefit digestion thanks to its unique mineral composition. We recommend drinking 0.5 litres of Donat per day to ensure the optimal effects.
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Have you decided to try
this drinking program?
Download the application which will make sure
that you never forget to drink Donat
in your chosen drinking program.
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