Gut health, where to begin? Let us help

How do I improve my gut health naturally?

We recommend:

  1. Begin with a broad-spectrum live probiotic and take it for three months. It takes time for the gut microbiome to rebalance especially if you are recovering from antibiotics, or if you have a gut disorder
  2. It’s easy. Take a small dose in the morning before food. You can dilute microbz with water or weak juice
  3. If your gut is sensitive you can start with a smaller dose and build up gradually. Your gut is unique to you, so your response will be personal to you
  4. Know that this is a 100% natural product and cannot do any harm. The clue is in the name – the pro (positive) microbes will only benefit the gut and anything not used will pass through naturally.
  5. To have the best chance to work for you, aim to eat a healthy diet, stay active, drink filtered water and find ways to minimise stress in your life. You could try our 14 Day Gut Health Challenge to help with this at the same time.

Good Luck!

Not sure which probiotic to use?

There are so many choices when it comes to finding the right probiotic for you and it can feel overwhelming.

We recommend one of these two products if you're starting out.

woven bag containing flowers and vegetables

How do you know if you have a gut health issue?

Trust us, you will know.

You’ll probably have one of these symptoms:

  • Bloating
  • Food sensitivities
  • Digestive problems
  • Skin issues like eczema or acne
  • Joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches, brain fog
  • Weight gain
  • Thyroid issues
  • Poor vaginal health
  • Other symptoms of hormone imbalance such as PMS, anxiety or menopause or perimenopause symptoms

What affects gut health?

Do you have a constant ache in your gut? Do you find yourself having to hurry away from others in social situations? Have you just completed a course of antibiotics?

Modern life directly contributes to an unhealthy gut through;

Poor nutrition

Inflammatory foods like gluten, refined sugars, refined seed oils and trans fats kill good microbes and allow bad microbes to thrive. They also damage the lining of the intestine and can cause leaky gut, where toxins and particles leak into the bloodstream.

Medications

Antibiotics, the oral contraceptive pill and synthetic prescription drugs can damage the gut. Studies show one course of antibiotics affects the balance of gut bacteria for two years.

Chronic infections

Including candida, parasites or worms. Candida is part of a healthy gut and is kept in check by other bacteria and yeasts. When a large number of bacteria are killed off – by taking antibiotics for example – the candida grows unchecked and toxic waste products affect health. 

Stress

In our world, people are often stressed, busy and tired. Stress can reshape the gut bacteria’s composition and weaken the immune system leading to inflammation. 

Katie Allen in a blanket holding a cup of chamomile tea

The gut-brain connection

Have you ever had a ‘gut-wrenching feeling’ or ‘butterflies in your stomach’?

We use these expressions for a reason. The gastrointestinal tract is very sensitive to emotion.

Your gut is your “second brain”. Ninety per cent of serotonin receptors (the happiness hormone) are found in the gut, not the brain. This is why gut disorders are now linked to anxiety and depression.

We now know that the brain and gut are connected by the vagus nerve which links most of the organs within the body and plays an important role in activating the nervous system. Nearly all of the signals that pass along the vagus nerve come from the enteric nervous system, a huge complex of neurons which lives in and controls the entire gut.

Your enteric nervous system independently and automatically takes care of your nutrition, a huge job in anyone’s book. The brain receives most information about the state of your body through the gut. So let's look after it!