Fibre me healthy
The gateway to good health after a stroke is through good nutrition with fibre.
All disease begins in the gut. - Hippocrates, Greek physician, 460 BC- 370 BC
THE effects of a stroke are far reaching. It is estimated that half of all people admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke experience incontinence, while a third will often face total loss of bowel control.
For many stroke patients, the partial or total loss of bowel control, coupled with the loss of independence, is an emotional, sensitive and personal issue, which often leaves stroke patients feeling stripped of their dignity.
A number of studies have suggested that the key to a stroke patient’s recovery and rehabilitation is to proactively manage gut health.
But just how closely is gut health linked to brain health?
Both the gut and brain share a unique ability to communicate via the nervous system, hormones and the immune system. In fact, leading experts are acknowledging the gut as the body’s second brain.
The health of our gastrointestinal system, or gut, is extremely important to our overall wellbeing.
The gut needs to be properly nourished with good nutrition so that it can help the body fight off harmful “invaders” and perform myriad complex tasks that keep us healthy.
Almost 70% of our immune system, our body’s natural defence system, is located in the gut. The gut is home to a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, of which 100 trillion bacteria cells are responsible for the critical functions of the body’s digestive and immune system.
This abundant network of microorganisms, also known as gut microflora or gut microbiota, performs a diverse range of functions.
This expansive ecosystem is capable of affecting the body’s vitamin and mineral absorption, hormone regulation, digestion, vitamin production, immune response and ability to eliminate toxins from the body.
Picture gut microflora as a lush garden filled with an abundance of exotic and indigenous flora and fauna (good bacteria), that work in harmony to defend your body against foreign invaders and harmful pathogens (bad bacteria).
Much like an overgrown garden, an imbalance in gut microflora will result in a compromised immune system and lead to a host of digestive issues such as gas, bloating and constipation.
An imbalance in gut microflora has been linked to certain autoimmune conditions and mood disorders like depression, eczema, psoriasis, hormonal disorders and inflammatory conditions, such as joint pain and arthritis.
What we eat affects the gut
The composition of our gut microflora changes over time in accordance to our stress levels and what we eat.
To reap the benefits of a healthy gut and cultivate a healthy microflora, we must nourish the good bacteria. This can be achieved through good nutrition.
In recent years, probiotics have been included in food for its inherent health be efits.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics, d “living microorganisms”, offer health benefits when taken in - quate amounts.
Probiotics, or good bacteria, have the ability to repopulate microflora and bolster the number of friendly bacteria in the gut.
Probiotics can be found in your local supermarket in fermented foods such as yogurt, tempeh and kimchi.
Equally important to gut health are prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that nourish good bacteria in the gut and act as fuel for probiotics to flourish and grow.
Think of prebiotics as a fertilizer. If your gut is a garden, then the function of prebiotics is to support the growth of more good bacteria to further strengthen your body’s natural defences.
An example of prebiotic is fructooligosaccharide (FOS), a type of dietary fibre found naturally in foods such as bananas, onions, tomatoes, wheat, chicory root, oats and soybeans.
Fibre’s role in good gut health
The benefits of eating a fibre-rich diet are undeniable. A high intake of dietary fibre has been linked to reducing the risk of developing various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, diverticular disease and constipation.
A recent study published in The BMJ supports growing evidence that fibre is a critical gut-nourishing nutrient.
Dietary fibre is found primarily in vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains, an is made up of a combination of soluble insoluble fibres.
Soluble fibre dissolves in water doing so, helps slow down digestio allows the body to absorb vital nu i from food.
It plays a key role in managing - rhoea as the soluble fibre absorb excess fluid in the bowel by prod i short chain fatty acids (SCFA) – a result of fermentation – thus, ad i bulk to loose stool.
Soluble fibre can be found in r i , oats, legumes and barley.
Meanwhile, insoluble fibre h s food pass through the digestiv - tem, promoting regular bo - ment and preventin . Examples of ins fibre include wheat, whole grains, legumes, carrots, cucumbers and seeds.
Dietary fibre, with its blend of soluble and insoluble fibre, is a crucial component in addressing bowel issues experienced by post-stroke patients.
A staggering 50% of stroke patients are likely to experience constipation as a result of prolonged inactivity, lethargy, medication, and insufficient water or nutrition intake, while one in five will develop diarrhoea due to complications arising from long-term tube-feeding.
Good nutrition goes a long way
According to the WHO, good nutrition is a cornerstone of good health.
Good nutrition is key to supporting the recovery process for someone who has experienced long-term illness. It can provide the body with essential vitamins and minerals needed to build strength, boost immune function, and restore overall health and well-being.
Give your immune system a fighting chance by nourishing your gut with the right nutrition. This article is brought to you by Nutren Fibre, a complete and balanced nutritional nourishment, formulated with a special blend of soluble and insoluble fibre with prebiotic, which su o the recovery, and digestive - tion and tube-feedin