2020-04-01 Reader\'s Digest AUNZ

READER’S DIGEST

5 Clear Signs You Might

Have an Unhealthy Gut

You need the right balance of bacteria in your

gastrointestinal tract to maintain good health

Y

our gastrointestinal tract

is inhabited by microbes

collectively called the

microbiome, which includes

bacteria, fungi and even viruses.

Although it sounds gross and even

unhealthy, it’s in fact, the complete

opposite. Gut bacteria perform

many important functions in the

body, including aiding the immune

system,producing the feel-good ILLUSTR ATION: GET T Y IMAGES; SOURCE: RD.COM

BY Colette Harris

brain chemical serotonin, making

energy available to the body from the

food we eat, and disposing of foreign

substances and toxins, according to

dietitian Lisa Dreher. Though most

of us have a mixture of good and bad

bacteria, sometimes the bad guys get

the upper hand, causing dysbiosis, or

an imbalance in gut bacteria, which

can play a role in a number of health

conditions. So, how do you know

HEALTH

20 april 2020