The gut or lower digestive system is much more important to overall health than many of us realise. The experts from NDS explain how
What is the importance of the gut to overall health?
The gut plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health due to its impact on several key bodily functions:
1. Digestion and Nutrient Absorption: The gut is responsible for breaking down food and absorbing essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Without proper gut function, the body cannot obtain the nutrients needed for energy, cell repair, and overall well-being.
2. Immune System Regulation: Around 70% of the body’s immune system is located in the gut. The gut lining and the diverse microbiome (the collection of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes) help protect against harmful pathogens, while also supporting the immune response to keep the body in balance.
3. Gut-Brain Axis: The gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis, a communication network involving the vagus nerve, immune system, and hormones. Gut health influences mood, stress levels, and mental clarity. An imbalanced gut is linked to anxiety, depression, and cognitive issues.
4. Metabolism and Weight Control: Gut microbes help regulate metabolism and can influence how the body stores fat and processes energy. Research has shown that an unhealthy gut may contribute to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic disorders like diabetes.
5. Inflammation and Chronic Disease: Gut health affects systemic inflammation, which is linked to a wide range of chronic conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers. A healthy gut can help reduce inflammation, while an unhealthy gut may contribute to its increase.
6. Hormonal Balance: The gut microbiome plays a role in hormone regulation, impacting everything from appetite to reproductive hormones. Imbalances in the gut can affect hormonal levels, leading to issues like irregular periods or mood swings.
7. Mental Health: Gut health is tied to mental well-being. The gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin, which regulate mood. Imbalances in gut flora have been associated with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Maintaining gut health through a balanced diet, probiotics, fibre, and stress management is essential for promoting overall well-being.
What is the importance of probiotics in maintaining gut health?
Probiotics are essential for maintaining gut health because they help support the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. It is important to note that the use of probiotics has to be targeted towards the gut related issue at hand to achieve the desired goal of managing and optimising your gut health. Here’s why they’re important:
1. Restoring Gut Microbial Balance: Probiotics replenish the gut with “good” bacteria, particularly after disruptions like antibiotic use, illness, or poor diet, which can wipe out beneficial microbes. This balance is crucial for preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria that can cause digestive issues, infections, and inflammation.
2. Improving Digestion: Probiotics aid in the digestion of food, helping to break down complex carbohydrates, fibres, and lactose. This leads to better nutrient absorption and can alleviate common digestive issues like bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.
3. Supporting Immune Function: Since a large part of the immune system is housed in the gut, probiotics strengthen immune defences. They help the body recognize and fend off pathogens more effectively, reduce the risk of infections, and may lessen the severity of certain illnesses.
4. Reducing Inflammation: Probiotics can reduce chronic low-level inflammation in the gut, which is linked to several diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They help maintain the integrity of the gut lining, preventing “leaky gut,” where harmful substances can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation.
5. Preventing and Managing Diarrhoea: Probiotics are especially effective in treating and preventing diarrhoea, including that caused by infections or as a side effect of antibiotics. Certain strains of probiotics can also prevent traveller’s diarrhoea or help shorten its duration.
6. Mental Health Benefits: Through the gut-brain axis, probiotics influence mental health by promoting the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin. Studies suggest that probiotics may help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.
7. Preventing Allergies and Eczema: Some evidence suggests that probiotics may help reduce the risk of allergies and eczema, particularly in children. They help modulate immune responses to allergens, potentially decreasing allergic reactions.
8. Weight Management: Probiotics may aid in weight management by influencing metabolism and fat storage. Some strains of gut bacteria are associated with weight loss and preventing obesity by altering how the body stores fat and balances energy.
How do NDS probiotics differ from other probiotic brands?
NDS Probiotics are the most comprehensive range on the market. Each NDS Probiotic blend is designed to target specific gut issues by utilising the synergies of varying mixtures of bacteria. There is no one size fits all when it comes to gut health, it is vital to use bacteria that will combat the issue at hand specifically. There are thousands of bacteria strains, it is illogical to suggest that one or two mixtures will cover every possible gut related issue effectively or at all.
How are NDS probiotics prepared for use?
Mix the NDS Probiotic in water, stir, leave for 15 minutes, stir again and drink. This allows time for the bacteria to “wake up”. The reason for NDS® Probiotic having to be dissolved in water before ingestion is that the bacteria must be given time to absorb the water required for their reactivation and efficient ability to function.
What nutrients are added to NDS products?
To aid the bacteria further in handling the osmotic shock involved in suddenly being exposed to liquid, the manufacturer of NDS® Probiotic has added special nutrients to the bacterial mixture. These include three different minerals and some prebiotics (food for probiotics).
What NDS products are targeted to which particular illnesses and dysfunctions?
We have 16 different probiotic blends designed to target various gut related issues. We have probiotic blends for pregnancy, allergies, mental related issues affecting the gut, physical stress, constipation, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, leaky gut, Sibo, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and much more.
Where can I find studies about the effectiveness of probiotics?
You can find studies in many places such as:
– National Institutes of Health
– Harvard Health
– Sciencedirect.com
– Gut.bmj.com
– Mdpi.com
If you are a Practitioner then we can also supply you with our own product specific studies and literature, please get in touch via our website www.ndsnutrition.co.uk for more details.
What’s the story behind NDS?
NDS is a family owned and run health supplement brand. Founded in Denmark in the early 2000’s by Kenneth Axelsen, who had been involved in the industry many years prior. As a brand, the goal was to provide Practitioners with the tools they needed to be able to service their patients / clients with the most effective and targeted products. Throughout the years we have continuously developed and refined our mixtures to target specific areas of gut health and gut related issues, guided by several of the most forward thinking and leading Practitioners within gut health. We continue to develop unique product ranges such as our tissue specific collagen range, our mushroom biomass range, and our FoodState vitamins and minerals.
Where can I find out more about NDS?
You can go to our website www.ndsnutrition.co.uk to find out more about our products. You are also welcome to fill out a contact form you will find in the footer of the website to pose any questions you may have.
