Your gut does so much more than just help you digest food—it’s a key player in your immune system. In fact, around 70% of your immune system is actually found in your gut. Inside your intestines, there are trillions of bacteria that form what we call the gut microbiome. These bacteria play a big role in helping your immune system stay strong and protect you from harmful invaders like viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

When your gut is healthy, with a good balance of beneficial bacteria, it helps your immune system recognize and fight off threats. It also acts as a barrier, preventing bad bacteria from taking over. These good bacteria even produce compounds that support your immune cells and reduce inflammation in your body.

But if something throws off the balance of bacteria in your gut—like a poor diet, stress, long course of antibiotics or illness—it can weaken your immune system. This can make it harder for your body to defend itself and can lead to long-term issues like chronic inflammation or autoimmune diseases.

Thus, Taking care of your gut is one of the main approaches to boost and maintain your immune system. Eating a balanced diet with lots of fiber, fermented foods (like yogurt, kimchi, or sauerkraut), and foods that feed good bacteria (called prebiotics) can help keep your gut in good shape. Staying active, managing stress, and getting plenty of sleep also play big roles in keeping both your gut and your immune system healthy.

In a nutshell, when your gut is happy and healthy, your immune system is stronger and better at protecting you from sickness. So taking care of your gut is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.