This is a marvellous diagram illustrating the changes that take place in our Gut as we age. By managing these proactively we can halt and even reverse their progression. Starting at the top declining smell and taste can be ameliorated by improving zinc status. Foods high in zinc include oysters, nuts seeds and red meat although often supplementation is necessary. Maintaining good dental hygiene using dental brushes coated with a natural paste I have formulated to curb plaque and prevent dental caries can help to boost healthy dentition. A lack of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, essential for breaking down foods into easily digestible components providing us with the vital nutrients we need to function optimally, can be addressed by taking supplements of these and by drinking herbal teas like chamomile or peppermint tea with our meals.
Waning Gut immunity can be bolstered by eating more immune-boosting vegetables and fruits including garlic, spinach, kale, broccoli, citrus fruits, asparagus and bell peppers.
Diminishing Gut motility or the movement of food through our Gut can be augmented with high fibre foods such as avocado, berries, dried fruit and apples, being well hydrated and enjoying regular exercise.
Having more contact with other humans and pets can enrich our gut flora, contributing to a more diverse and healthier Gut microbiome, which refers to all the resident microbes in our gastrointestinal system.
If we execute all those activities we will go a long way to circumventing the many infections that we encounter as we age reducing our need for antibiotics and the myriad other medications showered on us to treat a host of entirely preventable medical disorders.