ArcaMax

"No Guts, No Glory" was the title of an air-to-air combat manual written by U.S. Air Force pilot Frederick Corbin Blesse in 1955. The title could also be the motto for anyone hoping their health will fly high.

Your guts are at the center of your physical and emotional resilience. And to help your gastro system do its complex jobs (from regulating blood sugar and immune functions to managing moods, maintaining strong bones and keeping your liver, kidneys and brain functioning optimally), it takes more than a healthy diet. You need a team of other positive habits to make sure your gut is good to go (and I don't mean that just in a "to the bathroom" sort of way).

Stress reduction using meditation and aerobic exercise keeps the two-way gut-brain highway free of potholes and makes sure both organ systems influence each other in positive ways, dodging bowel problems and the blues, which can then trigger more bowel problems.

A good sleep routine (seven to eight hours of quality rest nightly) also helps avoid gut-busting stress and tamps down poor food choices you might make to console your weary self or boost your energy level.

Physical activity helps move food through your system and stimulates healthy diversity in your microbiome. That reduces the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases and stimulates the production of substances that protect against gastro woes and colon cancer.

For even more easy-to-use info on making sure you have glorious guts, check out my book "What to Eat When."

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.

(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.