If you've been paying attention to us for any length of time, you probably know that your gut has a huge impact on your overall health. We haven't exactly been subtle about sharing this message. But today we want to go a little deeper. What are the specific health issues that you can improve by working on your gut health? Here are six of the most important.

1. Weight Balance: Let's face it: staying at a healthy weight is tough. But you're not going it alone. You have millions of bacteria in your gut who are on your side! At least, that's what you have if your gut microbiome is healthy. Research has shown that people who are obese have a different balance of microbes in their gut than people who have a normal BMI. Finding balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria can help with losing unwanted weight, or maintaining the weight you're currently at.

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are you dealing with bloating, cramps, and abdominal pain? You may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gut dysbiosis may be to blame. When your microbiome is out of balance, you end up with microbes that produce lots of gas and other chemicals. This can lead to the discomfort felt from irritable bowel syndrome. A similar connection has been found between gut dysbiosis and inflammation from Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Both conditions may be improved by finding balance in your gut.

3. Poor Cholesterol Levels: How's your cholesterol looking these days? If it's not so good, you may want to take a look at your gut. Recent studies have found that a balanced gut promotes "good" HDL cholesterol. Better gut health equals healthier cholesterol, and thus a healthier cardiovascular system. Give your gut (and heart) a hand by supplementing with probiotics, particularly those that contain Lactobacilli.

4. Diabetes: Did you know that there is a connection between microbiome diversity (aka: a healthy gut) and diabetes? Researchers have found that a person's gut has much less diversity (and much more unhealthy bacteria) right before the onset of diabetes. Studies are still ongoing, but the balance of the bacteria in your gut may influence your body's response to sugar. This could be hugely relevant for anyone navigating diabetes.

5. Rheumatoid Arthritis: If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it's likely that your gut is high in a certain type of bacteria. This same bacteria tends to be low in people who don't have RA. While research is still exploring what this might mean, your gut may hold the key to reducing your RA symptoms. 

Whether you live with any of these diseases or not, a healthy gut is an important part of a healthy body. Take steps to support your gut health and see the difference today.