Why is a healthy gut important?
A healthy gut is essential as it absorbs essential nutrients and helps keep the body nourished. It plays an important role in general health and well-being and supports the immune system to help fight illness and infection.
How is gut health affected by age?
A healthy gut contains trillions of bacteria – with a positive balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria.
Levels of gut flora, in particular beneficial bifidobacteria naturally decline as we age, making us much more vulnerable to digestive disorders and infection as the balance between good and bad bacteria is disrupted.
In addition to this, the digestive system is often subjected to foods, stresses and other obstacles that aren’t good for the body’s overall health. The following can also have a negative effect on gut health and the body’s immune defences:
stress
poor diet
travelling
