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Healthier Gut = Stronger Immune System, Increased Energy, and Improved Mental Health

Improving your gut health will make you healthier, both physically and mentally, help better control your weight, and even more importantly, it will improve your Immune system.

Did you know the 75% of your immune system comes from your gastrointestinal tract? Were you also aware that an imbalance of intestinal flora can not only affect our physical health, but it can also contribute to anxiety and depression? This is why it is important to have a well balanced and healthy diet so that the gut stays healthy. Now, I’m not telling you to become vegan or to follow a specific type of diet because I am not a dietician, but I am providing you with information and facts that can help your overall health.

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Research shows that processed foods are typically an unhealthy choice over unprocessed foods but it is hard to avoid all processed foods because of availability of the unprocessed foods in your geographical area or just for the convenience that processed foods offers us. The processed foods that are most unhealthy for us are usually referred to as “ultraprocessed” and do not get properly digested and processed in our gut, therefore disturbing the gut balance and destroying our healthy gut microbiome. This could eventually lead to things such as, a weakened immune system, a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental health issues.
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As a physiotherapist and a healthcare provider I feel it’s my responsibility to not only provide you with physical rehabilitation but also give you information so that you can make more healthy choices in your everyday lives. These choices, if followed more regularly, with make you and your family feel better, physically and mentally and will improve your overall quality of life. This includes a decrease in general aches and pains that occur for no particular reason (inflammation), an increase in your energy levels, better sleep, and decreased stress and anxiety and better weight control.
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Do you not deserve to look and feel better? Of course, you do, and this is a great place to start. I have attached 3 links that discuss how to improve your gut health, the link between gut health and mental health and processed foods. I just caution you that not everything you read on the internet is fact or may be there to sell you their product. Best to find articles that come from reliable sources or perhaps find a dietitian to guide you through the transition process to a healthier gut.
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10 research-backed ways to improve gut health (medicalnewstoday.com)
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Healthy Gut, Healthy Mind: 5 Foods to Improve Mental Health | Psychology Today United Kingdom
Processed Foods and Health | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
For your health, your happiness, and wellbeing,

Michael Hofstatter

Elite Physio

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