What Is Gut Health and Why Does It Matter?

Gut health is one of those things we don’t usually think about — until something feels off.

But here’s the surprising part: even when your digestion seems “fine,” your gut could still be affecting your energy, mood, skin, metabolism, and more. And often, the signs are subtle… until they’re not.

So what exactly do we mean by “gut health”? And why does it matter so much?

What Do We Mean by “The Gut”?

When we talk about the gut, we mean your entire digestive system — from your mouth, down through your intestines, and all the way out. It’s where you break down food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste.

It’s also home to your gut microbiome — trillions of bacteria and other microbes that help regulate digestion, immunity, mood, inflammation, and even hormone function.

When your gut is working well, you’ll barely notice it.But when it’s not, it can show up in surprising ways.

What I Often See in Clinic

Most clients don’t walk into my practice saying, “I think my gut is off.” Instead, they come in with something like:

• High cholesterol

• Hormonal imbalance

• Stubborn skin issues

• Low energy

• Trouble losing weight

• Autoimmunity..

And we often start with the gut — even when it doesn’t seem obviously connected at first.

For example, I often work with clients who want to lower their cholesterol. They’re usually juggling busy work schedules, skipping meals or grabbing food on the go. Their fiber intake is often low, and their meals lack diversity. Once we focus on improving digestion — adding more vegetables, increasing fibre, and reducing inflammation — cholesterol levels often start to improve.

Or take skin issues like acne or rosacea. These often respond best when we support the gut by removing inflammatory foods, encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria, and increasing the body’s ability to eliminate waste efficiently. It’s not always a skincare issue — it’s often a gut issue.

And I’ve had many clients who feel stuck in their weight loss efforts, despite eating relatively “healthy.” Digging deeper often reveals long-standing constipation, poor absorption, and low-grade inflammation — all of which make the body feel like it’s holding on. When we improve gut function, things finally start to shift.

We often now heard about the brain gut link and how imrpoving one´s gut has been improving one´s mood.

In short: whatever your goal is, the gut is usually part of the picture. It might not seem obvious, but it’s nearly always essential.

On May 29, I’m launching a 21-Day Gut Health Challenge — a gentle, self-paced programme to help you reconnect with your digestion, reduce bloating, improve energy, and nourish your gut without overwhelm. Reach out if you are interested ! info@karellelaurentnutrition.com

Your journey to wellness starts now.

Karelle