Digestive health is very important. It is through the process of digestion that your body gets the nutrients it needs and eliminates waste products. Poor digestive health causes many symptoms, such as heartburn, acid reflux, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea, as well as emotional symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
You need your digestive system to be in good working order if you want to be healthy overall. Below, we name some of the benefits of good digestive health.
Efficient Nutrient Absorption
A digestive system that functions properly is able to absorb nutrients from your diet. Your body needs vitamins and minerals from food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein to run efficiently. You also need good nutrition absorption for energy, healing and maintenance, hormone, brain, and cellular function, as well as good bone health.
Prevention of Gastrointestinal Issues
Poor digestive health can lead to a range of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including upper gastrointestinal issues such as indigestion, gas and bloating, gallstones, peptic ulcers, and GERD, as well as lower GI disorders like constipation, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon polyps. By improving your digestive health through lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk of developing such problems.
Better Immune System Function
The digestive system and gut are closely linked. The gut microbiome, which is the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive system, plays a critical role in immune system function. The gut microbiome helps regulate the immune system, and a healthy microbiome can help promote a balanced and robust immune response and prevent harmful bacteria from entering the body.
Better Mental Health
Another connection is between your gut and your brain – through the gut-brain axis, the communication pathway between the gut and the central nervous system. An imbalance in the gut or the experience of having GI issues can affect mental health. Individuals with gastrointestinal issues usually have higher levels of stress, anxiety, and withdrawal from socializing.
Better Weight Management
A healthy digestive system makes it easier to get to and maintain a healthy weight. When the body absorbs the nutrients it needs, it is less susceptible to cravings and binge eating. In addition, a good digestive system promotes regular bowel movements, preventing complications that may arise from the buildup of waste in the body.
Better Digestive Health in Austin, TX
The board-certified and fellowship-trained gastrointestinal doctors at Austin Gastro provide personalized programs for every patient to help them have better digestive health through the treatment of acute and chronic GI conditions, as well as preventive practices and health screenings.
Austin Gastro can provide for all your gastrointestinal needs with our world-class facilities and a compassionate, patient-centric approach, which we take seriously. To schedule an appointment with one of our GI specialists, call our GI clinic nearest you or use our convenient online request form.
