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The Top 7 Common Myths about Your Gut Health, Debunked

by Samit Patel on November 26, 2022

The human gut is home to a complex and diverse community of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in our health, influencing everything from our immune system to our mood and energy levels.

Despite the importance of gut health, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about gut and gut health. In this blog post, we'll dispel some of the most common myths about gut health, so you can make sure you're on the right track for a healthy gut.


Myth #1: Probiotics Are All You Need for a Healthy Gut

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are thought to have health benefits when consumed. They can be found in fermented foods like yoghurt and sauerkraut, or dietary supplements.

While probiotics are important for gut health, they are not the only thing you need. Probiotics only make up a small part of the gut microbiota. To have a healthy gut, you need a diverse community of gut microbes.


Myth #2: You Should Avoid All Sugar If You Want a Healthy Gut

Sugar is often demonised, but it's not all bad. In fact, some types of sugar are actually good for gut health.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of sugar that acts as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are a type of food for gut bacteria. They help to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and improve gut health.


Myth #3: You Need to Eat Lots of Fibre for a Healthy Gut

Fibre is an important part of a healthy diet, but you don't need to eat a lot of it for gut health. In fact, most people only need about 25-35 grams of fibre per day.

Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot digest. It passes through the digestive system mostly intact and is fermented by gut bacteria. This fermentation process produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are thought to have several health benefits.


Myth #4: All Bacteria Are Bad for You

Bacteria are often thought of as being harmful, but this is not always the case. In fact, there are many different types of bacteria, and not all of them are bad for you.

The gut microbiota is made up of both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria help to keep the bad bacteria in check and support gut health.


Myth #5: You Should Only Be Concerned about Your Gut Health If You a Digestive Disorder

Just because you don't have digestive issues doesn't mean you don't need to worry about your gut health. As we mentioned earlier, your gut health has been linked to a whole range of other health conditions, so it's important to take care of your gut even if you don't have any digestive issues.


Myth #6: You Don’t Need to Worry about Your Gut Health Unless You Have Symptoms

Gut health is important for everyone, not just people with digestive issues. In fact, your gut health has been linked to a whole range of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and even depression. So, even if you don't have any gut-related symptoms, it's still important to take care of your gut health.


Myth #7: All Fibre Is Good for Your Gut

There are two types of fibre—soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre dissolves in water and can help to slow down digestion, which is good for people with diarrhoea or constipation. Insoluble fibre, on the other hand, doesn't dissolve in water and can actually make constipation worse. So, if you're struggling with constipation, it's best to avoid foods high in insoluble fibre, such as wheat bran, corn bran, and seeds.


Conclusion

It is important to be aware of the many myths surrounding gut health in order to make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle. The gut plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being, and we should take steps to protect it.

Unichem Greenhithe Pharmacy is an online pharmacy in NZ that offers a variety of treatments and options for your gut health. Good gut health is the key to a happy and healthy life, and we're here to help you achieve that! So we have a range of products that can help you maintain good gut health, including probiotics, prebiotics, and other supplements. Let us help you achieve optimal gut health! Browse through our selection of products today!

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