The Importance of Gut Health and The Role It Plays in Eating Disorders

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Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach or a gut-wrenching encounter? Whatever statement we use, it all relates to the same thing. Many brush it off as a usual occurrence, but the connection between our guts and brain is no simple matter.

Our body’s gastrointestinal tract has always been sensitive to emotion. Whatever emotion we have can affect our gut. It also includes eating disorder cases.

We often relate these disorders to our mental health. Due to that, we forget the importance of gut health in all our health concerns. Like other illnesses, an eating disorder can affect our guts in the worst way.

The more we leave it alone, the worse it will get. This article will discuss the importance of gut health and its role in eating disorders.

Gut Microbiome: How the Bacteria Affects the Body

Our body has trillions of bacteria, often located in our stomachs. They have specific roles to play for our health and immunity. It also produces vitamins and chemicals related to hunger.

In many studies, gut bacteria can affect weight through microbial diversity appearance.

Hormones in the body function and affect us in different ways. Some affect our appetite, including our gastrointestinal tract.

The Importance of Gut Health

Our brain has a direct effect on our stomach. For instance, when thinking of eating, our stomach can release its juices before even ingesting food. The same goes for our guts.

An unsettled stomach can send distressing signals to the brain. Many people with anxiety can feel gastrointestinal distress before an anxiety attack occurs.

It happens because our brain and gut have an intimate connection. This connection makes gut health critical in stabilizing our mental health. It ensures that we get the right balance of chemicals to regulate our mood and control our anxiety.

Eating Disorders and Their Effects on Gut Health

A malnourished gut means having lesser gut bacteria. People who have mental health problems like eating disorders can experience dysbiosis. This gut bacteria imbalance affects our brain chemicals controlling our anxiety and mood.

People who experience eating disorders have a different experience to experiencing hunger. They have less microbial diversity that also affects the immune system.

Eating disorders can trigger an immune reaction. It dysregulates and mixes our feeding, energy use, and anxiety signals.

Because of that, our immune system gets confused and attacks both healthy and unhealthy bacteria.

Treating Eating Disorders and Our Gut

By knowing the importance of gut health to eating disorders, we can find better treatment. Going on special treatments like wellness coaching and medications is the first step.

Further medical treatment is also necessary. That way, we can address gut treatment for complete recovery.

Understanding the Importance of Gut Health in Eating Disorders

It's essential to know the importance of gut health and its role in eating disorders. It provides awareness of the significant connection between the gut and the mind. This information will also help us find the best way to address our eating disorders and gut issues.

It may be a slow road, but recovery from these disorders is possible. Take one step to recovering with wellness coaching by contacting me now.