Gut Health: How to Have a Healthy Gut
In today’s culture, wellness is a trending topic. Influencers, celebrities and coaches are all going to new lengths to promote their own wellness practices, encouraging the masses that we all need to be stepping our game up too. We are all constantly chasing health and are willing to change our lifestyle, adjust our diets and get on board with just about any new healthy habit we learn about. But being “healthy” goes so far beyond natural products or a new workout plan. True health comes from within and carries out to your whole body and mind. It all begins with your gut. Keep reading to find out what gut health is, why it’s so important and how to maintain gut health.
What is gut health?
According to the UC Davis Health Journal, “Gut health describes the function and balance of bacteria of the many parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Ideally, organs such as the esophagus, stomach and intestines all work together to allow us to eat and digest food without discomfort.” They also describe that a staggering 70 million people in our world suffer from digestive issues. So, why are we all not focusing on our gut health? Good question. So many people suffer from some sort of digestive issue and spend their whole lives trying to “fix” or treat it and make it go away. The secret to almost all of those ailments, lies within your gut.
Some examples of common digestive issues include:
· Heartburn
· Nausea
· Bloat
· Constipation
· Diarrhea
· Abdominal pain
· Vomiting
If you suffer chronically with any or all of these symptoms, this information is for you. Your gut’s job is to break down the food you eat into nutrients that enter the bloodstream and nourish your body. If your gut is in good health, this process happens seamlessly and easily. If your gut’s ecosystem is off in any way, this process does NOT happen with ease – hence the symptoms. If healthy, your gut contains good bacteria that protects you from bacterial infection, viruses and fungi. It also helps communicate with the brain through nerves and hormones. All of these things maintain good health and well-being. In an unhealthy gut, it has been stripped of the good and immune-building bacteria – leaving you with all sorts of issues that carry out throughout your system.
Why is gut health so important?
Much to our dismay, your gut is not just your stomach. It’s not just the source of an uncomfortable belly ache, like you might think. Essentially, your gut is the epicenter of your body. It is the source of your physical and mental well-being. If it’s “off” in any way, it can affect way more than just your digestion. It is proven that your gut can be the root cause of other health issues including diabetes, skin problems, depression, and some cancers. And it doesn’t stop there. Many people believe that where there is a question, your gut is the answer. If you can maintain a healthy gut, you can essentially manage a great majority of health problems. Keeping your gut health in check can save you from countless medications, treatments and other “fixes” that really just do even more damage to your body.
How to have a healthy gut
1. Avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily.
For every bacterial illness or infection, there is usually an antibiotic. And while those antibiotics work quickly and effectively to mute the symptoms and “resolve” the ailment, they are also damaging your gut and hurting your body even more. Antibiotics strip your gut of bad bacteria, which is the goal, but also the good bacteria. When your gut loses that good bacteria, it changes your body’s pH and its ability to fight off infections. Thus, causing more health problems. The truth is, so many things can be cured and healed naturally through healing your gut and taking care of your body. So instead of being so quick to jump on antibiotics, take some time to figure out some alternative remedies that might cure you and prevent you from getting the same illness again.
2. Reduce stress.
Believe it or not, stress plays a big part in the state of your gut. Stress has been proven to negatively affect your gut flora and affect the speed of digestion. Reducing stress is an easy way to improve your gut health and even heal your gut. Practice self-care and relaxation techniques such as meditation, taking a bath, enjoying peace and quiet or even do some yoga. Whatever it is that brings you calm and eliminates your stress – do more of that. Your gut will thank you later.
3. Take prebiotics and probiotics.
Once there is damage to your gut and you are lacking in a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in your gut microbiome, there are ways to replenish those good bacteria. Taking a prebiotic and probiotic supplement(s) will do that damage control for you. Prebiotics serve as food to promote the beneficial bacteria in your gut and probiotics are actually live good bacteria going straight to your gut! Here is a list of good prebiotic and probiotic supplements.
4. Eat fermented foods.
One incredibly powerful source of probiotics is fermented foods. Fermented foods aren’t always everyone’s “cup of tea”, but if you can get creative with adding them to your favorite meals, you’ll be doing your body and gut a huge favor.
Some examples of fermented foods are…
· Kimchi
· Sauerkraut
· Kefir
· Miso
· Tempeh
· Yogurt
· Kombucha (yummy beverage)
It’s important to note that not ALL of these foods are created equal. You should always do research on the source and ingredients the food, to make sure they aren’t artificial, processed or highly sweetened.
5. Be intentional about what you eat.
Making good, healthy and intentional meals will help heal your gut. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and other nutrient rich foods will feed your gut in a positive way and in turn help your overall wellness. Make the choice to eliminate highly inflammatory foods such as dairy, gluten and processed sugar that will only aggravate your system and disrupt your gut health. If you want some yummy and healthy recipe ideas, check out the recipes I share here!
6. Get sufficient sleep.
Not getting enough sleep takes a huge toll on your body. It is well known that sleep deprivation is damaging to your mind and body. It runs you down, depletes your immune system AND hurts your gut. Make your sleep a priority and focus on getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep, often, will do wonders for your health and wellness.
Prioritize your gut health
As you can see now, your gut health is the heart of your body and mind. It is a “health tip” that should be emphasized and given the utmost attention and exposure. After all, wellness IS a trend right now and we should make gut health a trend too. In addition to all the other incredible things we are doing for our body, we need to focus on healing our body starting in the center. Healing and supporting your gut will help your health significantly and truly set you out on a path to a healthier you!
For more tips and tricks on living a healthier life, check out my other blog posts. If you have any questions, or just want to chat wellness, don’t hesitate to reach out!