UNDERSTAND MY HEALTH
Gut & Digestive Health After 60
What Part of My Health Am I Improving?
Gut & Digestive Health is your input, processing and absorption system. Explore digestion, nutrient absorption, the gut microbiome, bowel function and the connections between digestive health, metabolism, immunity and wellbeing.
Why This Matters After 60
Healthy ageing is not about one number, one exercise or one food. This hub brings together the explanations, practical actions and evidence connected with Gut & Digestive Health.
Understand → Improve → Measure
Use the resources below to understand the topic, connect it with the relevant parts of the OVER 60s QoL Guys system and identify useful next steps. Measurement should support better decisions — not simply collect numbers.
Explore Gut & Digestive Health
THE BIG PICTURE
Understanding Gut & Digestive Health After 60
Gut & Digestive Health covers the intake, breakdown and movement of food, absorption of nutrients, bowel function and the complex interaction between the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, nervous system and the community of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome is an exciting area of research, including work on metabolism, immunity and the gut-brain axis. But much of the science is still developing. Associations between particular microbes and health outcomes do not automatically prove that changing those microbes will prevent or treat disease.
Digestion and Absorption
Healthy digestion helps make nutrients available to the body. Appetite, dentition, medications, illness, hydration, fibre intake and physical activity can all influence nutrition and bowel function in later life.
The Gut Microbiome
Trillions of microorganisms live in the gastrointestinal tract and participate in digestion, metabolism and immune interactions. Research also examines communication along the gut-brain axis, but personalised microbiome prescriptions remain an evolving field rather than settled consumer medicine.
What Can You Work On?
A varied nutrient-dense diet, adequate fibre where appropriate, sufficient fluids, regular movement and attention to protein and overall nutritional adequacy provide a practical foundation. Individual gastrointestinal conditions may require different dietary advice, so generic recommendations should not override clinical care.
What Should You Measure?
Useful observations include bowel-pattern changes, persistent discomfort, appetite, unintentional weight change, hydration and nutritional adequacy. Routine consumer microbiome testing should not be treated as a comprehensive diagnosis of gut health.
Seek professional advice: Persistent or significant changes in bowel habits, gastrointestinal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, swallowing difficulty, severe or persistent abdominal pain, or other concerning symptoms warrant medical assessment.
Turn Knowledge Into Action
The Whole Body Health Assessment helps you look across health, capability and daily behaviour so you can identify strengths, gaps and priorities.
Start the Whole Body Health AssessmentEducational information only. The assessment and website do not diagnose disease or replace individual medical care.