Palm Beach North Sports - April 2021

6 P A L M B E A C H N O R T H SPORTS | A p r i l 2 0 2 1 Gut Health for the Athlete By Cheryl Buckley LDN, RDN, CDN, MBA, MS Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that are living in the digestive tract. It is responsible for putting the body into working order- it transports food from mouth to stomach and converts it into absorbable nutrients. It also helps the body to store energy and shuttles waste back out of the body. Gut health has been linked to various aspects of health that seemingly have nothing to do with digestion, including emotional stress, immunity, and chronic illness such as cancer and diabetes. Maintaining the right balance of gut organisms is vital for mental and physical health which is extremely important for an athlete’s performance. THE IMPORTANCE OF GUT HEALTH Over the years, we thought of bacteria as an organism to avoid. Our body is loaded with trillions of bacteria, paired with other tiny organisms like fungi and viruses, which are responsible for the creation of microbiota, sometimes also known as the microbiome. Same as fingerprints, everyone’s microbiota is different, but there are a few generalities about what’s healthy and what’s not. Bacteria lives throughout the body, but the ones in your gut may have more impact on your health. A healthy gut always contains bacteria that are healthy and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like viruses and fungi. A healthy gut is also essential to eliminate potentials of having anxiety and depression, which are responsible for everything from metabolism to your mood to your immune system. It communicates directly with the brain through nerves and hormones, suggesting it is the primary reason for your health and well-being. 5 SIGNS OF AN UNHEALTHY GUT According to different researchers and studies, an unhealthy gut can be tied to a lot of symptoms throughout the body. Upset Stomach: If your stomach is upset by symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation, these all can be signs of an unhealthy gut. Fatigue: A study published in 2017 states that people having chronic fatigue syndrome can have an imbalanced gut microbiome. Weight changes: An unintentional weight loss is another sign of an unhealthy gut. Studies show that losing or gaining HEALTH & WELLNESS