World Digestive Health Day: Why It’s Important

Every year on May 29th, the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) celebrates World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) and initiates a yearlong, worldwide, public health campaign through more than 110 WGO Member Societies which reach over 50,000 individuals worldwide. Each year focuses upon a particular digestive disease and/or disorder in order to increase general public awareness of prevention, prevalence, diagnosis, management and treatment of the disease and/or disorder. The theme for the World Digestive Health Day 2020 campaign is “Gut Microbiome: A Global Perspective.” 

Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before the blood absorbs them and carries them to cells throughout the body. The body breaks down nutrients from food and drink into carbohydrates, protein, fats, and vitamins.

Our digestive track is home to about 100 trillion bacteria that digest our food, regulate our hormones, eliminate toxins and produce key nutrients. With over 400 species of bacteria in our gut, our health depends on maintaining the critical balance between the good and harmful intestinal bacteria. They help with digestion, but otherwise they stay on their side of the intestinal lining, and we stay on our side. But, in fact, there is a lot of interaction between the body’s immune system and bacteria in the gut.

About 70 percent of the body’s immune system resides in the digestive track. When the immune system is compromised, such as is the case when gut health is compromised, we are at increased risk for autoimmune diseases, bacterial overgrowth, colds, flus, cancer, allergies and many other conditions.

The food we eat not only feeds our fat cells, but also determines what kind of inner garden we are growing in our guts. This garden is filled with bugs that determine more about your health and your emotional and mental well-being than you ever imagined! Getting your gut bacteria healthy is one of the most important things you can do to get and stay healthy. If your bacteria are sick, so are you!

The key to good health is a strong immune system, especially during times like these.  If we have a weakened immune system we are more susceptible to colds, flu and other problems (including the coronavirus). Germs are everywhere and being exposed to them is a natural part of life. Building a strong immune system is your best defense against infectious illness and disease.  Your immune health depends on the lifestyle choices you make every day. By supporting your body’s own natural ability to defend itself against pathogens, you will not only have resistance to colds and flus but to other infectious illness that comes your way. 

By keeping your digestive track healthy, you can keep your immune system healthy. As we continue this fight against the coronavirus, it is important that we do everything we can to keep ourselves and others healthy. Pay attention to your digestive health and focus on maintaining a healthy diet!