I didn’t truly understand the importance of gut health until I became unwell myself. I developed symptoms consistent with chronic fatigue syndrome, which left me bedbound for months and took years to recover from. I had no energy, struggled to concentrate, and my sleep was severely disrupted. Even the smallest daily tasks felt overwhelming. I was existing, not living.
My turning point came when I explored the role that gut health has on our overall wellbeing.
Because here’s the thing, our gut isn’t just about digestion. It’s home to trillions of bacteria (our gut microbiome), and it plays a central role in how our whole-body functions, especially in midlife. During this stage of life, hormonal changes (particularly oestrogen) don’t just affect our reproductive system, they also interact with our gut. Disruptions in gut microbiota (known as dysbiosis) have been linked to fatigue, inflammation and altered metabolism. I always think of it like a beautiful colourful garden. You need a wide variety of plants, sun, nutrients and water to create this garden. But if you have too many weeds that can suffocate the growth of the plants then this is like dysbiosis in the gut.
When your gut is out of balance, it can show up in ways you might not expect. I began to understand that it is deeply connected to our brain through something called the gut-brain axis. That means your gut and brain are constantly talking to each other. Research shows that around 90% of your serotonin (your “feel good” chemical) a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation is produced in the gut. So, when our gut is not functioning well, it can affect our mood, clarity and how resilient we feel day to day.
By improving my gut health, which started with looking at foods that supported or hindered my gut, I began to see improvements especially as around 70% of our immune system is based in our gut. Also, the gut plays a role in how our body processes food, stores fat and regulates blood sugar and appetite. Research shows that changes in gut bacteria can influence how we gain and store weight. Add hormonal changes into the mix, and it’s no surprise things can start to feel different—especially around the mid-life.
In midlife our bodies are changing. And it may simply need a different kind of support now. For me, understanding gut health became an important part of that. I often think… I wish I’d known this sooner which is why I am passionate to support other women on their journey.
References
- Belkaid, Y., & Hand, T. (2014). Role of the microbiota in immunity andinflammation. Cell, 157(1), 121–141.
- Carabotti, M. et al. (2015). The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of Gastroenterology.
- Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13(10), 701- 712.
- Giloteaux, L. et al. (2016). Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome. Microbiome.
- Turnbaugh, P. J. et al. (2006). An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest. Nature, 444, 1027–1031.
- Yano, J. M. et al. (2015). Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. Cell, 161(2), 264–276.