How Healthy is Your Gut? - This month, our fitness expert Annie Deadman on discovering what's really going on inside your body and how to keep it in the peak of condition

The microbiome will be host to both good and harmful bacteria, and the swing in favour of one or the other can influence whether or not you fall victim to conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease and other inflammatory disorders or hormonal issues. These include polycystic ovary syndrome and high cholesterol, as well as what we might consider more common ailments like digestive issues, mood swings, constipation, migraines and general lethargy. The power that a healthy gut can wield over our wellbeing is enormous. And just like no two fingerprints are the same, no two microbiomes are the same.

- By Annie Deadman

What a fascinating topic this is. There’s been so much research into gut health and it’s still very much ongoing. But how can we tell if our own is flourishing or struggling?

First, let’s look at the terminology. Microbes are tiny bugs in the form of bacteria, viruses or fungi. There are trillions of them living on and in the human body. The microbiome is their community, so when we talk about a healthy gut, we mean a healthy gut microbiome. Why is it important for human health?