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As we age, often after 40, we may begin noticing changes in digestion, energy, inflammation, metabolism, and overall wellness. Bloating, constipation, food sensitivities, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, and chronic inflammation often become common. What you may not realize is that these symptoms can be rooted in the gut.

I have been working in the wellness field for years and have spent a lot of time helping adults support their bodies naturally through habits and lifestyle changes, nutrition, and targeted supplements. I feel I understand how you feel because I personally had my own health journey managing CRPS, which is why I am now a Certified Natural Health Professional, Herbalist, Aromatherapist, and Gut Health Nutrition Specialist.

I know that supplements are not a replacement for healthy habits, but the right gut health supplements can provide additional support for digestion, nutrient absorption, microbiome balance, inflammation, detoxification, and metabolism.

In this article, I’ll share some of the best gut health supplements for adults over 40 and explain how they may help support you on your wellness journey naturally.

Why Gut Health Matters More After 40

As we age, our digestion definitely changes, and we start noticing a few things. We tend to feel bloated, gassy, constipated, and that stuffed feeling after we eat is more intense. These symptoms can be due to the following:

• Digestive changes that occur with aging
• Reduced stomach acid and enzyme production
• Increased inflammation and stress burden
• Medications that may impact gut balance

It’s important to pay attention to these symptoms because our gut health is connected to our metabolism, immunity, energy, and pain. It is also connected to our moods and stress response through the gut-brain axis. I believe if you want overall health, focus on these natural gut health supports, your habits, and a healthy diet full of fiber.

Signs Your Gut May Need Support

I have always said that symptoms are your body talking to you to let you know things are off. Below are some signs of poor gut health that we need to pay attention to as we age.

If several of these symptoms are sounding familiar, your gut may be asking for support rather than another temporary fix that masks the symptoms.

Probiotics for Gut Microbiome Support

Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that reside in your gut and are known as your gut microbiome. These beneficial bacteria come from many different species and are a major player when it comes to digestion, and are connected to your brain, immune system, metabolism, and endocrine system. Keeping them fed and balanced is important to maintain overall health.

An imbalance in the gut microbiome can occur from periods of chronic stress and inflammation, antibiotics, and a poor diet. That is why supporting your gut microbiome is important. Maintaining balance requires healthier daily habits and better food choices. Remember, your gut loves plants, fiber, and fermented foods. How much are you eating?

Product Recommendations from Nature’s Sunshine

• Probiotic Eleven supports healthy gut microbiome balance and digestive wellness.
• Eleven Elevated offers 66% more than Probiotic Eleven.
• Bacillus Coagulans is a shelf-stable probiotic to help repopulate the microbiome with beneficial bacteria. May provide relief from occasional digestive upset, such as diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
• Bifidophilus Flora Force friendly strands of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium longum to restore natural microbiome/gut balance

Digestive Enzymes for Better Nutrient Absorption

If you aren’t familiar with digestive enzymes, they are known as protease, amylase, and lipase. Their job is to help the body digest protein, fats, and carbohydrates, and without them, we wouldn’t be able to absorb nutrients or support the liver with detoxification. Enzymes are found in the foods we eat, and our body produces them in our stomach, small intestine, and pancreas.

As we age, especially after 40, our bodies’ production of enzymes declines. Another important part of breaking down proteins is stomach acid, which works with enzymes. Many of us who feel bloated and overfull after meals may benefit from taking enzyme supplements. We need to break down and absorb the foods that we eat to maintain optimal health.

Nature’s Sunshine Product Recommendations

• Food Enzymes break down carbs, fats, and proteins with hydrochloric acid.
• Proactazyme Plus breaks down carbs, fats, and proteins.
• Papaya Mint – supports and assists in breaking down proteins.
• Hi-Lipase helps digest fat.
• Lactase Plus helps digest dairy.

Fiber Supplements for Gut and Metabolic Health

Product Recommendations from Nature’s Sunshine

• Psyllium Hulls are a soluble fiber to support intestinal health and toxin elimination.
• LoClo is enriched with vegetables and fruit ingredients and is a great way to add dietary fiber.
• Everybody’s Fiber combines nutritive herbs like apple pectin, slippery elm, marshmallow, and flax meal, offering soothing benefits to the gut and intestinal tract.
• Power Balance is a superfood fiber matrix that fuels metabolism and regulates appetite. It also helps balance blood sugar, slowing the impact of carbohydrates and reducing spikes & crashes. boosting gut health. 

L-Glutamine for Gut Lining Support

L-glutamine is an amino acid that serves as an important fuel source for the cells lining the intestinal tract. It is often used to support gut lining integrity, especially during periods of chronic stress, inflammation, digestive imbalance, or poor dietary habits. L-glutamine can become depleted during these times, which is why it is often included in gut health protocols when these factors are contributing to overall gut health.

Product Recommendations

L-Glutamine

Herbal Supplements for Digestion and Inflammation

Herbs have been used traditionally for centuries to support digestion. Bitters have been used to help activate the digestive process, other herbs have been used to reduce gut inflammation and the stress response, soothe the intestinal lining, and for digestive discomfort. Some of my favorite herbs and their uses are listed below.

• Gentian, dandelion, and burdock root are great digestive bitters
• Ginger is hot and spicy and is often found in bitter herb formulas, but it also helps with gas, bloating, and heartburn.
• Slippery elm is very soothing and gentle and may help with acid reflux, heartburn, IBS, and ulcers.
• Marshmallow root helps with bloating, acid reflux, heartburn, IBS, and ulcers.
• Turmeric helps stimulate digestion, relieve indigestion, and protect the gut-brain barrier.
• Fennel promotes regularity, soothes inflammation, and eases bloating, gas, and spasms.
• Peppermint helps with nausea, gas, and bloating, and relieves symptoms of IBS.

Nature’s Sunshine Product Recommendations

• Stomach Comfort is a unique blend of herbs that supports your digestive system and relieves occassional discomfort, neutralizing stomach acid.
• Intestinal Soothe and Build is one of my favorites, a blend of herbs that helps ease gut and bowel troubles, relieves occasional bloating and pressure, and supports intestinal detox and cleansing.
• Digestive Bitters is a blend of herbs that stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, helping to break down nutrients for absorption.

Magnesium and Stress Support

Stress affects so much in the body, including digestion. When we are under stress, the fight-or-flight response is activated, and the rest-and-digest becomes secondary. When the rest-and-digest becomes secondary, energy is diverted away from digestion, which can lead to bloating, stomachaches, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation. When the fight-or-flight response is heightened, it can affect sleep and muscle relaxation, leading to depleted magnesium levels. A two-way communication system, known as the gut-brain axis, also exists, allowing our gut to communicate with our nervous system, which is why how we manage stress matters for gut healing.

Product Recommendations from Nature’s Sunshine

• Magnesium Complex is a blend of magnesium to support normal muscle function and contributes to energy production and fatigue reduction.
• Anxiousless is a patented formula containing L-theanine to relieve occasional fatigue & anxiousness.
• Nutri Calm is a combination of herbs, vitamin C, and B-complex vitamins to help maintain a more peaceful mindset and to give your nervous system a break.
• Stress J is an herbal formula traditionally used to provide natural calming mood support, relieve occasional stress, and promote feelings of calm.

How to Choose the Right Gut Health Supplements

Supporting gut health with supplements can be a wise choice as long as you are not chasing a trend and are willing to also make some lifestyle changes. Here are a few tips when considering a gut health supplement.

• Work on your food quality first, especially if that’s your weak area.
• Start simple and introduce one supplement at a time.
• Focus on consistency and stay on course for at least 60-90 days.
• Listen to your body in case an issue arises.
• Consult a healthcare provider first, if needed.

I believe in building a strong foundation first. Healthy habits, whole foods, movement, sleep, hydration, stress support, and gut health all work together. Supplements should support that foundation, not replace it.

My Personal Approach to Gut Health After 40

I was injured in 1994 and got the diagnosis of CRPS. CRPS is a chronic pain condition that comes with a whole lot of stress. Living with that continued and prolonged stress wasn’t gut-healthy. In 2005, I began focusing on the whole me. So I took a holistic approach to my health and started looking at what I was eating, drinking, how I was sleeping, moving, and managing stress. Focusing on my habits, one at a time, making improvements is what helped me regain my health. The first three things I tackled were hydration, diet, and movement, all of which helped support a healthier gut and less stress. That is why I always focus on a strong foundation first, with the book I wrote, The Healthy Habits Challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Gut health is not about buying dozens of supplements. It is about supporting the body consistently, it’s progress over perfection. Focus on healthier habits, better nutrition, stress management, movement, sleep, hydration, and targeted support where needed.

The right supplements may help support digestion, nutrient absorption, inflammation balance, microbiome health, metabolism, and overall wellness, especially after 40 when the body often needs that additional support because things are slowing down.

Ready to Start Supporting Your Gut Naturally?

If you are tired of feeling bloated, inflamed, exhausted, or stuck, start with simple daily habits that support your body from the inside out.

Recommended Next Steps

• Read The Healthy Habits Challenge
• Explore and Learn More About Gut Health
• Schedule a Free Wellness Consult
• Join Gut and Glow