Get enough sleep
Sufficient sleep is crucial for general wellbeing, but depriving yourself of sleep can disrupt the communication between our gut and brain.
Ms Travers said: “The bacteria in the gut directly communicate with the central nervous system and disrupted sleep can affect the levels of bacteria in the gut.”
Lack of sleep releases the stress hormone, cortisol, which plays a role in intestinal permeability issues, according to Henry Ford Health.
This can be known as a “leaky gut”, which describes the process of food and toxins filtering through to your intestine into the bloodstream.
Ryan Barish, M.D told Henry Ford Health: “This can lead to a host of issues including bloating, inflammation, stomach pains, food sensitivities, and changes to the gut microbiome.”
Ideally, adults should get between seven to nine hours of sleep a night, according to the NHS website.
Get into nature
According to Ms Travers, spending more time outdoors also bears a vast influence on gut bacteria.
She said: “Microscopic airborne particles are colonised by a variety of bacteria that make their way into us via the air we breathe.
“One of my favourite ways to take advantage of the outdoors is by gardening, as science shows that exposure to green spaces and outdoor sunlight, including our own gardens, has proved successful at improving mental wellbeing, reducing depression and anxiety symptoms, while also having a positive effect on stress reduction.”
