(BPT) - Have you ever felt uncomfortable after a meal? Maybe you know that certain foods upset your stomach, so you avoid them altogether. Gut issues are more common than you think with more than half (62%) of Americans having experience with occasional gut issues, according to the 2024 Habits and Healthspan Survey sponsored by Amway. In fact, one in three adults is experiencing a common gut issue right now!

1. Gut health is a significant issue in the U.S.

Your gut does more than just digestion. Did you know it's foundational to overall health and wellbeing? That's because there are trillions of bacteria in your gut that make up your microbiome. About 70% of your immune system is located in the gut and a balanced gut microbiome helps support not just digestive health, but also your immune system.

You might be surprised to know that emerging science indicates your mood might even be linked to your gut microbiome. Neurotransmitters like serotonin are produced in the gut, which can affect our mood.

• 42% of survey respondents say they or someone close to them have experienced a gut issue that a doctor was unable to properly diagnose.
• Common gut issues seem to be more prevalent among younger Americans with 54% of respondents ages 18 to 34 years reporting that they or someone they know had undiagnosed gut issues, compared to 38% of those over age 35.

2. A lack of education is a major factor in America's gut gap.

Stress, pollution, poor diet and lack of sleep all can negatively impact your gut's good bacteria causing an imbalance.

However, the gut microbiome is still not well understood.

• Less than half (41%) of Americans feel they understand what constitutes a healthy gut biome.
• This gap is even wider among older adults aged 55 to 70, with only 28% feeling confident about their gut health knowledge.

Maintaining a balanced diet, exercising and staying hydrated can support gut health and a balanced gut microbiome. However, studies show supporting gut health takes consistent effort over several weeks to several months.

As research progresses, scientists are learning more about how to support the gut. Here's what you can do. In addition to your diet, probiotics - good bacteria - can support your microbiome. You can also use other supplements designed for daily use and that provide plant-based ingredients, fiber and prebiotics to help support your gut health and your gut microbiome.

3. Overarching healthy habits build a foundation for gut health.

By establishing healthy habits early in life, we can proactively help support our gut and ultimately support our healthspan. Just like any resolution, the key is to be consistent over the long term.

Establishing healthy habits from a young age is a great approach to health & wellness. Of course, maintaining these habits for the long term can be hard to do, but that's why community is so important.

• Only 36% of adults ages 18 to 70 who had engaged in healthy lifestyle behavior within the past 12 months say they started their healthy lifestyle behaviors because they learned it at a young age from a parent or loved one - and not in response to a pressing health issue.

Surrounding yourself with family, friends and like-minded individuals creates an environment where knowledge is exchanged, accountability is encouraged and a supportive network is woven into the fabric of daily life.

Taking control of supporting your gut.

The findings from this year's Habits and Healthspan Survey highlight two critical areas of concern: the prevalence of gut health as an important issue for consumers and the knowledge gaps. Education and long-term habit formation are the keys to supporting overall gut health. By addressing these gaps and building healthy lifestyle behaviors - with the support of those around us - we can promote health and wellbeing for all. For more information, visit AmwayGlobal.com.