Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, and
stomach pain are all kinds of gastrointestinal problems we have faced before. They are easy to dismiss
as merely an upset stomach, but this mentality could
build up and ultimately be detrimental to mental and physical
health. Improperly caring for the digestive system can lead to
extensive intestinal health issues. The microbiome is a collection
of all of the microorganisms that thrive in the human digestive
system. It is a cohesive network of beneficial, neutral, and negative bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses that help digest foods
that are otherwise indigestible by our digestive tract among many
other functions. Neglecting intestinal health by not nourishing
the microbiome with proper nutrients, abusing medications, or
excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a host of different
health problems. For example, sleep disturbances, like insomnia, are a common symptom of a struggling gut. They can lead
to chronic fatigue because the majority of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that is pivotal in mood and sleep, is manufactured
in the gut [1]. A more acute health crisis that can develop from
improper care of one’s gut is the formation of peptic ulcers in the
stomach or small intestine. Peptic ulcers are caused by a breakdown of the mucus membrane in the digestive tract and result in
chest and abdominal pain, weight loss, trouble breathing, and in
extreme cases expulsion of blood [2]. Who would have thought
that what we eat could affect the development of healthy gut
flora, which then can contribute to declining mental and physical
health? This article investigates topics regarding the gut’s impact
on body and mind, what lifestyle choices cause dysbiosis, and
how Parkinson’s Disease can develop beginning in the gut to
demonstrate how central the gut is to overall wellness. CLICK TO REVIEW