Our gut is a fascinating system. Far more than just our colon, it’s actually our entire digestive system, involving many large and small organs. But did you know that it’s also home to the majority of our immune system (about 70-80% of it)?

The immune system gut connection is a topic that has occupied doctors and researchers for quite a while, and we’re here to share the highlights with the help of our Principal Scientist, Arianne Vance. “While there are still many unknowns when it comes to the human microbiome, experts believe that the activity and composition of the gut microbiome is important to our overall health,” says Vance. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to support an environment for a happy microbiome and immune system. Hint: many of them are delicious.

How Does Our Gut Health Affect Our Immune System?

Our body’s collective microbiome helps support our entire body’s functions, including our immune system, but what does that mean? First, let’s look at what the microbiome actually is. “A huge array of microorganisms is found all over the human body, both inside and out,” Vance says. “In fact, it's estimated that there are between 500 - 1,000 different species of bacteria in the human body at any given time." (4) The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract alone houses several trillion microbial cells, making up the largest portion of the human microbiota.” All those bacteria combine to create a powerhouse supporting our gut health and immune system, and the more diverse the microbiome, the better.

A large proportion of the human immune system is located in the gut, so it follows that keeping the gut happy helps keep the immune system happy, too. “While there are still many unknowns when it comes to the human microbiome, experts believe that the activity and composition of the gut microbiome can impact overall health.”

A Diverse Microbiome for a Healthy Immune System*

So how do we support our immune system gut connection? The answer is simple: keep those bacteria diverse. Research has shown that a diverse population of good bacteria in our gut helps keeps our microbiome in shape. Think of it this way: if you only have one person doing a job and they call out of work one day, the work won’t get done—but if you have a number of people ready to step in, then operations can continue seamlessly. We can follow a similar protocol in everyday life to support our gut and immune system (LGG®, BB-12® strains) through gut-loving foods and supplements like Synbiotic+.*

Nutrition for Gut Health Support*

We always recommend a food-first approach for optimal health and nutrition, and fortunately, many of the foods that support a diverse microbiome—and therefore a happy gut and immune system—are extremely tasty. “Foods rich in fiber can support digestive health by promoting regularity and consistency of bowel movements,” Vance says on the topic of nutrition-focused gut support. “Also, foods containing prebiotics can support gut health by helping to ‘feed’ the desirable bacteria already living in a person's GI tract. You’ll want to incorporate probiotics (the actual bacteria that will live in our gut) and prebiotics (the food for both you and the bacteria, which love fiber most of all) at the same time in order to diversify our microbiome and aid in producing postbiotics (a group of beneficial compounds created by the bacteria through a fermentation process).”*

Here are a few suggestions for foods high in probiotics and prebiotics:

• Probiotics: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, pickles, kombucha, vinegar, sauerkraut, miso

• Prebiotics: leafy green vegetables, artichokes, garlic, onions, banana, whole grains, fresh fruits, cocoa, flaxseed, seaweed

The Bottom Line on the Gut & Immune System Connection

Looking after our gut health and immune system is one of the best ways to keep a happy gut and fortunately, it’s not difficult to incorporate microbiome-supporting practices into our diet. If you’re struggling to get enough prebiotics and probiotics trust us, we understand how challenging eating well can be when life gets busy), we add a pre and postbiotic like Synbiotic+ to help ensure that our microbiome and immune system stay happy.*

References:

1. Wu, Hsin-Jung, Wu, Eric. (2012). The role of gut microbiota in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Retrieved from PubMed Central.
2. Fields, Helen. (2015). The Gut: Where Bacteria and Immune System Meet. Retrieved from Hopkins Medicine.
3. Lazar, Veronica, Ditu, Lia-Mara, Gradisteanu Pircalabioru, Gratiela, Gheorghe, Irina Curutiu, Carmen, Holban, Alina Maria, Picu, Ariana, Petcu, Laura, Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen. Aspects of Gut Microbiota and Immune System Interactions…. (2018). Retrieved from Frontiers in Immunology.