This week: We’re talking about the perks of keeping up with a healthy gut and how a small part of your body has such a big impact.

The gut microbiome is a complex part of the body that’s filled with hundreds of species of living bacteria. Recent studies have shown that gut health has direct links to all sorts of moving pieces in the body, like the immune system, mental health, skin health, even cancer.

Keeping our gut healthy and happy can be a direct link to whole-body health, and we should keep an eye out for different red flags that something could be off deep within our gut microbiome.

Lifestyle habits have an impact on gut health.

For starters, lifestyle habits we have like high stress levels, too many processed foods and sleep deprivation can weaken the gut and increase the likelihood of obesity, a weakened immune system, heart problems and more.

Not sure if you have a healthy gut?

There are other bodily flareups that might suggest you’ve got an unhealthy gut, including upset stomachs, weight fluctuation, skin irritation and digestion issues — to get to the root of the issue, sometimes we have to look deeper than surface-level solutions.

Give your gut a leg up.

No issues so far? Keep your gut healthy by getting plenty of sleep and taking a probiotic to help grow that healthy bacteria living in the gut. As far as goods go, keep your fridge stocked (we suggest Alfred weekly grocery delivery) with high-fiber veggies and fruits to help with digestion. You can also find lots of fiber in oatmeal, nuts, quinoa and other whole-wheat substitutes. Fermented foods like kimchee and yogurt are great for gut bacteria, plus collagen-rich foods like bone broth. Be sure to check out these gut-healthy ingredients you should add to your grocery list.