Gut bacteria constitute the different types of bacterias in a person's gut . These friendly bacterias which are more in number than the bad bacteria, are responsible for breaking down some dietary fibers and complex carbohydrates in the gut that are difficult to break down on their own. These Intestinal microbes make the complex food inside the gut easier to digest.
As a byproduct, the bacteria of gut produce short chain fatty acids and enzymes which are necessary to synthesize vitamins.
Role of Intestinal Microbes in Weight Loss
Weight of a person is directly related to the gut microbiome. The number of digestive bacteria present in the body is directly responsible for the weight fluctuations. The diversity of the Intestinal Microbes is lesser in obese people. Certain bacteria initiate calorie absorption , promote fat storage and inflammation , regulates appetite and intervenes in weight loss. The weight of the body can be managed by identifying the number of different types of bacterias present in the gut. The ratio of different types of microorganisms present in the gut can be identified by a gut biome testing.
There are two type of important group of bacterias in the guts :
- Prevotella
- Bacteroides
It is seen that if there are more bacteria from the group of Prevotella, it is easier to maintain weight with a healthy gut. Infact , if there is an equal amount of bacteria from both the groups, it is difficult to lose and manage weight. The insulin level in the body is regulated by Prevotella copri, one of the bacteria from the Prevotella group. More Prevotella copri bacteria in the body helps in the improvement of the overall health of the body. It maintains a lower level of insulin in the body as too much insulin can increase the possibility of obesity.
Read More: How To Maintain Good Gut Health By Balancing Your Gut Microbiome
How does gut health affects fitness of the body
The digestive microorganisms or the gut microbiome is responsible to maintain energy metabolism and a continuous supply of energy needed for workout in order to maintain fitness of the body. Performances which require a high level of energy can directly be affected by gut heath. Thus a healthy gut is very important to be maintained in order to have a fit body.
Reasons why a healthy gut is important during athletic performances:
- Healthy gut releases more energy from the consumed food during workout.
- It maintains the immune system which helps in repairing and strengthening the muscles during intense workout.
- It helps in muscle growth after the workout session
- Through a healthy gut, the body is able to manage weight by digesting the food properly.
- It checks inflammation in the body
- It produces nutrients and enzymes that support the health of joints and bones. It also reduces the tendency of breakage of bones by managing the effects of oxidation.
- Gut health supported by probiotics , healthy diet and supplements results in higher stamina, endurance and energy during workout.
- Gut health encourages the release of short chain fatty acids which constitutes 10% of the total calorie required by the body in a day. Other than their work of keeping the gut strong and healthy, they are a huge source of energy during physical activities.
Gut health during fitness workouts
- The digestive system functions effectively when there is sufficient amount of water in the body. Loss of water through sweat can cause dehydration which affects the digestive process. By keeping the body hydrated, the gut is able to absorb nutrients effectively.
- The lost electrolytes can be replaced by consuming electrolyte rich foods and beverages such as coconut water, bananas and oranges.
- To restore good bacteria in the gut, include probiotic rich food like yogurt in the diet
- For muscle repair after workout, include protein rich foods in your diet.
- To get relief from constipation or gut problems, include fiber rich food in the diet such as oats and bananas.
- Through sweat, the body is prone to losing lots of nutrients. In order to replenish the loss, include nutrient dense food in the diet such as colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains etc.
How is gut health, nutrients and physical exercises are related
During exercises, the body demands energy which is only available through minerals, essential vitamins and micronutrients. If the gut’s nutrient demand is not fulfilled, it leads to malabsorption. As the body is deprived of the basic nutrients, it affects the physical performance and the the body’s ability to recover after the exercise.
While working out , a higher amount of energy is required for the activities which can be easily extracted from the food if there is a diverse and balanced gut microbiome. A gut which is imbalanced results in tiredness during exercise and a decrease in the capacity to carry out exercise.
The immunity system which is related to the gut plays an important role in the recovery of muscles after workout. A healthy gut supports the immune system in repairing the muscles after an intense workout.
Conclusion
A fit body is possible through activities such as gyming and swimming and without the support of a healthy guts, effective weight loss through a fit body is impossible to attain. The contribution of the guts in the functioning of the gut is wide. Thus, the optimal benefit of exercises can be acquired by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consuming probiotics, a balanced diet and a stress free lifestyle will give notable outcomes of exercises in the long run. Regular exercises also keeps one away from overall health issues.
In sova health, you can take a gut biome test to check the status of your gut. This will give insight as to what are the possible ways to treat your gut in the journey of weight loss. Based on the gut microbiome test, we provide a free diet and supplement plan based on the gut profile. We have many gut microbiome tests available for weight loss with various features and add- ons. You can select one and avail the services which are highly feasible and worthy of your health concern.
