Smarty Guts: How a Happy Gut Leads to a Happier, Healthier You!(The Critical Curriculum Series: Important Things We Should All Know)

This 'Critical Curriculum' series covers crucial, real-life subjects that should be taught to our children in schools. Hello! My name's Rachael - I'm a primary school teacher and, most importantly, a mother to two incredible little people. My obsession with gut health and overall wellbeing began a few years ago when my wonderful 'Pops' was diagnosed with incurable cancer. I fell down a rabbit hole of research (RACH-search to the amusement of my friends!) and the deeper I got, the harder it became to ignore what I had found out. Thankfully, this information is slowly becoming more mainstream but my aim is to always inform my children as much as I can when it comes to how they look after their mind and body. I felt compelled to create a book to be shared collaboratively between caregivers and children (don't underestimate them-my 3-year-old is beginning to understand this!). Gut health is an important topic to be educated and discussed from an early age so it becomes 'the norm' and embedded in everyday life, in order to live long, happy and healthy lives. New research evidences how long term inflammation can lead to an overactive immune response causing a variety of conditions, including allergies, asthma and systemic inflammation which can cause the many diseases humans are increasingly facing today - including Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Arthritis, Dementia, Cardiovascular Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and certain Cancers. Today, clinicians are progressively understanding how more and more conditions are being linked to the gut's complex ecosystem of microbes. New evidence shows the microorganisms in our gut determine overall health and wellbeing, and that diet and environmental chemicals can affect the microbiome. For example, diet can include too many ultra processed foods containing additives, preservatives, modifiers, artificial colours and flavours, salt, sugar, and saturated fats; processed animal meats and gluten. Environmental chemicals can include sanitisers, pesticides, perfumes, tobacco smoke and cleaning chemicals. This book can serve as a tool to cultivate a love of food, grounded in knowledge and understanding of whole, nutritious foods that nourish both body and mind. It can be used to educate and inspire adults to be responsible role models (for impressionable children) when it comes to healthy living and fostering a positive relationship with food. Disclaimer Please note that the author is not a medical professional. The information provided in this book is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this book. It is important we are mindful and informed about our dietary choices to maintain a healthy relationship with food and avoid the risk of developing eating disorders. While the research and information presented in this book are believed to be accurate, the author makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.