The digestive system, also referred to as the gut, not only produces nutrients but also assists hormones that manage the cycle of hair growth. It promotes the transition between the anagen, catagen and telogen phases. Studies have found that gut health has a direct or indirect link with hair health. Therefore, for overall health, it is essential that your gut health is working fine. In this blog, we will discuss ‘what is digestive system?’ and how it impacts hair health.
What is Digestive System and How Does it Work?
The digestive system is a set of related organs that are responsible for turning the foods you eat into nutrients that your body needs to function, including those required for hair health. Actually, gut health includes the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (also known as the digestive tract or alimentary canal) and accessory organs, such as the gallbladder, liver and pancreas, which support the digestion process.
The alimentary canal is a long tube of organs that allows food to run through the body. It starts from the mouth, moves through the pharynx, esophagus or food pipe, stomach, small intestines, large intestines and rectum, and exits through the anus. As the food passes through several parts of the alimentary canal it slowly gets digested.
Understanding the Link Between Digestive System and Hair Health
Digestive or gut health plays an important role in your physical and mental health. The digestive tract has a complex balance of varied microorganisms, which is referred to as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome conducts many crucial functions, such as helping food digestion and protecting you from harmful pathogens. Notably, it extends its support to influencing hair health.
Every individual has a different microbiome. A healthy person has a variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses. They assist in processing the nutrients important for hair health, such as biotin, vitamin B12 and folate. Additionally, they help regulate the immune system which can impact scalp and hair health.
If the gut microbiome is imbalanced, then it can disturb the main physical processes, such as nutrition absorption, immune responses and safety against pathogens, leading to a range of health problems. Some of these may impact hair health, directly or indirectly. So, it is important to understand the need to maintain the gut microbiome not just for your overall health but also for the health of your hair.
How to Improve Hair Health Through Digestive System
Here are some common ways through which your gut system can help improve your hair health.
Eat a Healthy Diet:
It is recommended to eat a healthy diet that is good for your hair health. Your meals should contain vegetables, lean proteins, a lot of fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, fermented foods and probiotics, which will ensure a healthy gut and provide essential nutrition for hair health.
Stay Hydrated:
For overall bodily functions, including digestion, staying hydrated is essential. You should drink plenty of water daily to make your gut microbiome function properly.
Manage Stress:
Stress can lead to several issues with gut health, directly or indirectly. So, it is important to include regular exercise or stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga and deep-breathing exercises, in your daily routine that will not only benefit your overall health but also improve hair health.
Get Enough Sleep:
Insufficient sleep can drop the balance of good and bad bacteria in our stomach, which might impact our overall health. So, getting enough sleep also contributes to a balanced gut microbiome, which in turn improves hair health.
Take Digestive Enzymes Supplements:
If you have problems that disturb nutrient absorption, then you may take digestive enzyme supplements. However, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider before opting for any supplements.
Conclusion
Understanding from ‘what is digestive system’ to knowing how it is linked to improve overall hair health, here we have reached at the bottom of the blog. Therefore keeping the gut in check, not only improves a healthy heart and overall body but also makes your hair healthy. Besides keeping you energized, it also helps boost your mood and improve your ability to absorb nutrients and digest them, keeping the bloating and inflammation at bay. Therefore, if your gut is healthy, then you will ensure better and healthier hair.
