Written by Inesa Ponomariovaite, Health Coach & Hemp Expert
Inesa is the visionary founder and CEO of Nesa’s Hemp, the world’s first-ever full-spectrum CBDa oil. It is created through a unique process Inesa developed that preserves all the healing compounds of the hemp plant. This promotes optimal healing and restores the body to its natural state.
Why is gut health important? The American Medical Association describes gut health as the well-being of your entire digestive system and its microscopic components including viruses, bacteria, fungi and other elements. The community of living things in your gut are known as the gut microbiota or microbiome.
The gut, or gastrointestinal tract, plays an important role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function. It hosts trillions of beneficial bacteria that aid in breaking down food and producing essential vitamins which we need to survive as humans. Think of the gut as a little factory in your stomach that is responsible for producing all the nutrients you need from food. They do this by breaking down this food into smaller components and extracting important nutrients like vitamins from them.
A healthy gut acts like a strong army of beneficial microbes that defend against harmful microorganisms and inflammation, ensuring proper nutrient absorption. Imbalances in gut health can lead to digestive issues, weakened immunity, and chronic diseases. Despite extensive research on gut health, scientists continue to uncover new insights into the gut microbiome. Between 2014 and 2024, PubMed featured 53,450 publications focusing on the gut microbiome.
As scary as this may sound, it will interest you to note that the food we eat has a major role to play in the overall health of our gut. A diet rich in fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics fosters a diverse and balanced gut microbiome. Conversely, processed foods, high sugar intake, and excessive antibiotics can disrupt this balance, leading to gut dysbiosis and various health issues.
How many people are having gut health challenges in 2024?
Gut health trends across 2024 shows that most people in the world are not aware of what they need to do to keep their gut healthy. Information from research shows that about 40% of the world is suffering with gut health challenges while two-thirds of Americans are living with gut issues without being aware of its consequences.
It is pertinent to note that gut health consists of several disease conditions including hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. Let’s look at how many people had these conditions in the first half of 2024.
How many people experienced hemorrhoids in 2024?
While there are about 10.4 million people with hemorrhoids in the U.S research shows that about 1 million people come down with hemorrhoids every year. This possibility of coming down with hemorrhoids is expected to increase as people grow older with seniors from 51 years and above experiencing the worst cases.
Data from Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine shows that Hemorrhoids account for more than 3.5 million office visits annually. Hemorrhoids are responsible for over 3.5 million outpatient visits in the US, making them the third leading cause of hospital admissions related to gastrointestinal disease. Each year in the USA, $350 million to $2.5 billion is spent on hemorrhoidal disease, with diagnosis and treatment becoming a multi-billion dollar industry.
How many people with irritable bowel syndrome in 2024?
Information from About IBS shows that about 5-10% of the world are suffering with IBS. Between 25 and 45 million people suffer with Irritable bowel syndrome in the United States. The disease is most common in women and younger adults below 50 years. On a global scale, the disease affects 1 in every 25 adults.
Recent research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology indicates that annual spending specifically for IBS ranges from $370 to $5,544 per patient, averaging $1,127. This includes costs for medical consultations, diagnostic tests, and non-prescription treatments. Such financial burden underscores the importance of effective management strategies to reduce the economic impact on both patients and healthcare systems.
How many people had celiac disease in 2024?
It is estimated that 1 in every 133 American adults suffer with celiac disease. So far, the disease have been diagnosed in over 3 million Americans. There is a major challenge with diagnosing celiac disease as up to 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
What supplements or products are preferred for gut health challenges?
Many people with digestive issues often use vitamins and supplements to help their gut. Research from Brightfield Group shows that those with digestive problems are more likely to buy specific supplements like probiotics, collagen, and kombucha.
Popular examples of probiotics and digestive supplements include Marshmallow, Vital Planet, BIOHM and NuQleo Boost. Marshmallow is known for its soothing properties on the digestive tract while Vital Planet offers a range of targeted probiotic formulas. BIOHM combines probiotics with enzymes to help balance the gut microbiome, while NuQleo boost is designed to enhance nutrient absorption and digestion. These supplements are part of a growing trend towards personalized health solutions, reflecting an increased awareness of the importance of digestive health in maintaining overall wellness.
What are the top ingredients for digestive health in 2024?
Apart from the mentioned supplements, certain ingredients have become popular in 2024 for their potential benefits for digestion. Some of these ingredients are listed below;
Hemp products, particularly CBDa (cannabidiolic acid) oil, support gut health by reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, and promoting a balanced gut microbiome. CBDa interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system to modulate gut function, potentially easing symptoms of conditions like IBS and promoting overall digestive health. Statistics show that more than 60% of US adults have used one or more hemp products in 2024.
Turmeric was the most liked ingredient thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation. About 13% of people dealing with gut health challenges have attested to using it.
Vitamin B-12 is a favored ingredient for maintaining gut health because it is vital for various functions, including red blood cell formation, nerve function, energy metabolism, gut lining maintenance, and support for a healthy gut microbiome. Data from industry trends in 2023 shows about 30% of consumers aiming for digestive health tend to include vitamin B-12 in their wellness routine.
Adaptogenic herbs like ginseng, cordyceps and Maca are also notable in promoting gut health by helping the body manage stress, which can affect gut health. Elderberry and ashwagandha, in particular, have been consistently purchased by this group over the past year.
What are the top shopping channels and social media platforms for gut health?
Consumers mostly buy supplements from regular grocery stores, online platforms (especially Amazon), and pharmacies such as Walgreens and Duane Read. Interestingly, health food stores like Whole Foods are among the least preferred places for consumers with digestive issues to buy supplements, with only 13% choosing them as their go-to retailers.
People dealing with gut health challenges are most likely to be on Twitter (X) and Reddit than other social media platforms.
Read more from Inesa Ponomariovaite
Inesa is a Health Coach and Hemp Expert who assists people with proven methods to stay healthy by utilizing the healing power of plants. She is an advocate for healthy living, demonstrated by her success in helping her mother beat cancer, a result she is replicating with people around the world. Inesa believes in the power of nature and that everyone deserves to live their best life without total dependence on low-quality pharmaceuticals. As the CEO and founder of Nesa's Hemp, the world’s first full-spectrum CBDa hemp extract, she is on a mission to educate people about the healing power of hemp while providing top-quality hemp products tested by FDA-approved laboratories.
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