Still Gut Health

te It has been a few months and yet, the subject is just as current as in November of 2023. 
GUT health. There is more and more research on the importance of our gut health and everything that depends on it.  Mental health, with more than 80% of serotonin produced in the gut, which our brain requires for things like feeling happy and stem cell production in the brain in order to repair and rejuvenate.  Microbiome, the gut bacteria which helps to prevent infection, food poisoning, inflammation, regulates cholesterol and recycles hormones.
The gut barrier, which keeps food and waste within the digestive track, preventing things to enter the blood stream, causing allergies and inflammation response.  I could go on and on. 
So what's the problem?  Unfortunately, the food we are consuming these days and have been for the last few decades.  We are enticed and encouraged to eat breads, pasta, pizza, treats, cookies, candy and ice cream, all made with GMO ingredients.  Wheat, sugar, dairy, corn, soy.  The major ingredients in most of our consumed foods in the SAD (standard American diet) have all been genetically altered to withstand heavy use of pesticides to yield high amounts of profits.  All this, along with solvents used in seed oil processing (canola, vegetable oil) as well as sodium laurel solphate, cause damage to our gut barrier.  
So what is the problem,  you ask?  Increased inflammation, stress on the body, allergies, auto immune disease and endless list of symptoms.  
And the solution?  We must take back the responsibility for our health, our food and our well being.  We have become complaint and follow the advice of advertisements,  sponsored influencers and AI generated posts. 
My current, favorite word is DISCERNMENT.  Use your discernment,  do your research, check all of the information available because at the end, it will be you suffering, falling ill and having to deal with inflammation and disease.