TRUST YOUR GUT

Want to be healthier and happier? Experts think the bacteria in your belly could be the secret to living well

- EVA-MARIA BOBBERT

THERE ARE 4 000 to 6 000 bacteria species in our gut, and the signs of an imbalance include everything from heartburn and bloating to trouble sleeping, skin rashes, sugar cravings and autoimmune problems such as thyroid issues.

"When things are absorbed through our gut wall they are transported through our entire bodies through the bloodstream," says Professor Phil Hansbro, author of The Good Gut Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

"So anything that is produced by our microbes can affect the health of each part of our body and our body as a whole.

"Incredibly, each species has its own nutritional needs and produces its own metabolites," he adds. "Some are pro-inflammatory - they produce toxins and metabolites that cause inflammation in our body.

Even a small change in our microbiome can have a snowball effect, Hansbro says.

"Inflammation and damage to the gut creates an opportunity for more bad' bacteria to grow."

Although processed and sugary foods are linked to feeding inflammatory-producing bacteria in your gut, the damage do is very individual as it depends on the microbes you have that could tip the balance in your favour.

Your gut microbiome is as individual as your fingerprint - even twins don't share the same intestinal bacteria.

We often talk about "good" and "bad" bacteria, but it's far more complex than that some bacteria can be beneficial for certain people but cause havoc for others. Some can be harmless in small numbers but really bad news in big groups.

What experts do agree on is how vital it is to keep these microbes alive - they control everything from our ability to digest food to fighting off viruses and infections (an estimated 70 percent of the body's immune cells are in the gut). They also produce a variety of vitamins, synthesise hormones like serotonin, and turn the fibre you eat into short-chain fatty acids that can lower inflammation.