10 Amazing Facts About Your Gut

Reading Time: 3.5 Min

Many people often overlook the powerhouse of functionality that your gut is within your body. That's all about to change! Discover the incredible, yet underestimated, roles your gut plays beyond digestion, influencing your overall well-being in ways you might not have imagined. Here are 10 gut facts you might not know yet.

Guaranteed to have you saying, "What the Gut?!"

1) Your gut's an ace 🎾

Wrap your head around this: 30 feet! Yup, you got it right. Picture this—your entire digestive tract, if laid out, would measure a whopping 30 feet, surpassing the length of a singles tennis court.

It's a journey that begins with your mouth, travels through the pharynx, includes the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and concludes in the small intestine and large intestine of the lower tract.

Think of it as a complex, coordinated dance, and suddenly, serving Serena vibes takes on a whole new meaning! Your body's intricate design is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

2) You’re a walking, talking rainforest

Sure, Bezos, Gates, Musk and yes, the Kardashians are billionaires, but did you know you're a trillionaire? 

When it comes to your digestive system, you've got 100 trillion microbiota functioning 24/7 in your gut to keep you healthy. (We get it, a 12-figure bank account might seem more enticing, but you can’t put a price on health.) 

The microbiome has more biodiversity than the Amazonian rainforest. There are so many microorganisms in the human gut that scientists haven't even identified them all. 

3) We’re all the same because we’re all different

Just as your fingerprint is unlike any other, so is your gut’s microbiome … a “gutprint”, if you will. No two microbiomes are exactly the same; in fact, only 10% to 20% of the bacteria in your gut is shared by anyone else.

Even identical twins, whose genes are 95% alike, are not a microbiome match. The bad and good bacteria you have will be different from your neighbour beside you!

4) You’re outnumbered … by a lot

The human genome consists of roughly 23,000 genes. That may sound impressive until you learn that your microbiome encodes over 3 million genes that produce thousands of metabolites. So when it comes to genes, you’re more than 99% microbial.

5) Fibre reigns supreme

The “biotic trifecta” describes the symbiotic relationship held between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. Each depends on the other to function properly and to keep your gut healthy.

Prebiotic fibre is a form of soluble fibre that human cells cannot digest. Instead, they support the essential bacteria in the gut called probiotics. Think of prebiotic fibre as “food” for probiotics.

6) The gut functions as your “second brain"

Would you have ever guessed that your gut has a rebellious side? Yup, unlike any other organ in your body (including your heart), your gut doesn’t rely on your brain to function. 

Although your brain and your gut are in constant communication with one another via the gut-brain axis, the vital process of digestion can operate independently. This is due to its makeup of neurons, 100 million in fact (That’s more than in your spinal cord), which create senses and reflexes that keep your digestion functioning. 

7) Food for your mood

One of the reasons diet so heavily impacts your mental and emotional state is because of… you guessed it, your gut!

Along with many other hormones, the gut produces 90% of the body’s serotonin, also known as the “happy hormone’, which is transported to your brain via neurotransmitters.

An unhealthy diet compromises digestion, making it difficult for your gut to operate and produce the neurotransmitters you need. 

8) Get your Zzzs

Whether you’re ready to rise and shine or need to hit the snooze button is due in part to your gut. Melatonin, a hormone the brain utilizes in responding to darkness, thereby regulating your sleep cycle, is created by the gut. 

An unhealthy diet compromises digestion, making it difficult for your gut to operate and produce the neurotransmitters you need.

9) Zero to 100, baby, real quick

Babies are born with no gut bacteria and rely on their mother’s breast milk to begin cultivating. It is imperative infants develop these bacteria because it’s here that roughly 70% of the body’s immune system is located. 

10) Collagen Cravings

While most of us think of skincare and beauty products when we hear the word “collagen”, few know the significant role it plays in gut health.

The most abundant protein in your body, collagen, accounts for about one-third of the total protein composition and is a key factor for digestion. It moves through the digestive tract and assists in the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates in your intestines. It also assists in repairing and healing the intestinal lining through the process of collagen synthesis. 

So there you have it, 10 amazing things the gut does, can do and will do when taken care of with a healthy diet, prebiotic fibre, and a good night’s sleep!

Take care of your gut with Crazy D’s Sparkling Prebiotic Beverages!