Getting older can be difficult, especially if you’re not focused on your gut health. Aside from everyday health challenges, normal aging presents additional considerations when it comes to gastrointestinal (GI) health. Even if you’re doing all that you can and should—eating healthy, exercising daily, managing stress, and getting enough sleep—there are subtle changes that begin to emerge. Over time, they may progress to disability or illness. Knowing what to expect as you age is key to planning for success as you age.
Leaky gut and/or gut dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) can affect people of all ages, and today, it’s largely inescapable. The degree of GI damage can be influenced by lifestyle behaviors that you can control, such as poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol, as well as factors that you may not have much control over, such as toxic chemicals in the food, water, and air. That’s why it’s so important to avoid the things that antagonize the gut and embrace the things that support gut health.
