Surprising Super “Star” Boosts Gut Health!
Gut health is finally stepping into the spotlight.
And it’s about time.
I read studies daily from major scientific journals showing that a healthy microbiome reduces your risk of major disease like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and even obesity.
Knowing that, finding ways to boost your gut health should be pretty high up on your priority list.
Taking a quality probiotic is a good start…. but there’s another surprising super “star” that can keep your gut healthy.
All you have to do is step into the sun…
I mentioned that studies about gut health pop up daily… but do you know what else I see right alongside them?
Studies on the benefits of vitamin D.
Having higher levels of vitamin D has been connected to everything from a lower risk of complications with COVID, to a reduced risk of advanced cancer.
Now, a study published in the journal Nature Communications has put these two hot topics together: Vitamin D BOOSTS gut health!
This study included 567 men in their 80s who had blood samples tests for vitamin D levels, and stool samples studied to determine bacteria type and quantity.
The researchers found that men with higher blood levels of vitamin D were more likely to have a good variety of gut bacteria (12 different types). These particular beneficial bacteria are the kind that produce the fatty acid butyrate.
Among other things, butyrate helps prevent gut inflammation: it has anti-cancer actions, it improves blood sugar balance, it helps defend your cells from damage, and it helps keep your gut’s lining healthy.
This is last point is critical because having a strong gut lining is what allows vitamins and minerals to leave your gut and enter your bloodstream— while keeping out harmful things like toxins, pathogens, and food components that can make you sick.
Leaky gut has been associated with gastrointestinal issues like Crohn’s disease, celiac, and irritable bowel—as well as with other non-gut-related conditions like autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, arthritis, and more.
And it’s becoming more and more common.
But this study shows that making sure you have plenty of vitamin D is one key step to keep your microbiome healthy—and provides the tools necessary to keep your gut lining intact.
Here are the top three ways to boost your vitamin D levels (listed in order of importance):
- Direct sunlight
- Food, like fatty fish, milk, and yogurt
- Vitamin D supplements
P.S. As you know now, vitamin D is CRUCIAL for your health. But could you actually be flushing it – and its benefits — down the drain without even realizing it? Find out if you are – and how to maximize your benefits, here.
