Gut health might seem like the latest fad, but this “fad” is for real, and it has major implications on your wellness – especially for women in midlife and menopause.
Beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome do a whole lot of very useful things, including helping to make many nutrients in our food available for our bodies to use. They keep our intestines intact to prevent “leaky gut,” they help regulate our immune system, they impact brain health, emotions, even reproduction.
It pays to keep your microbiome well-fed and happy.
Gut health for women over 40
There’s a special pocket of gut flora called the “estrobolome” which helps metabolize estrogens in our body. When these are disrupted or die off, we are at higher risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and obesity. In turn, estrogen in the body helps these flora … flourish! Obviously, these bacteria are at greater risk when we hit perimenopause and estrogen levels begin to drop.
How to protect our gut health
Fortunately, there are ways to optimize the care and feeding of your gut biome to prevent dysbiosis, or the die-off of beneficial bacteria. Check out “Gut Check: How to Increase Beneficial Bacteria” on Prime Women for the full scoop on maintaining a healthy gut and reaping the benefits.
What do you do to protect and nourish all those helpful bacteria in your belly? Share with us in the comments below!
Check out our other articles in cooperation with Prime Women, including How to get good sleep and the effects of low-dose birth control in menopause.
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