Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once said “All disease begins in the gut.” While all disease doesn’t literally start in the gut, but many research findings confirm that many metabolic, autoimmune, and cognitive diseases do in fact start with gastrointestinal disturbances or imbalances. These findings highlight the fact that we cannot achieve optimal health without a healthy gut.

The gut, otherwise known as the large intestine hosts trillions of bacteria, fungi and other organisms. It also houses 70% of our immune cells, the majority of neurotransmitter production, influences our metabolism, contributes to energy homeostasis, and so much more.

People incorrectly assume that an absence of gastrointestinal symptoms equates to a healthy gut but that is far from true. While digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. are very common, it’s also almost just as common for symptoms to present neurologically.

Gut disturbances often result in symptoms such as brain fog, poor concentration, poor memory, depression and anxiety. This is because the gut and the brain are in constant communication via the gut-brain axis. That means poor gut function can lead to poor brain function. Other areas that are closely affected by the gut include the skin, immune system (and risk of autoimmune disease), blood sugar regulation, detoxification and cell mitochondria metabolism.