Gut health contributes to the health of your heart, brain, and the strengthening of your immune system. It also plays an important role in mental health, sleep patterns, digestion and even proven to help prevent autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, and some cancers. In this Blended For Wellness, we’re diving into why good gut health is so important and giving tips on keeping yours in balance.
What is ‘Gut Health’ Your body is full of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi, which are collectively known as the microbiome. Most of the microbes in your intestines are found in a “pocket” of your large intestine called the cecum, and they are referred to as the gut microbiome. Your gut microbiome is what you want to keep in balance.
Signs Your Gut Needs Some Love
Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut
Upset stomach (bloating, constipation, heart burn) Sugar cravings Unintentional weight gain or loss Sleep disturbances Skin irritations (eczema) Autoimmune conditions Food intolerances
Getting & Keeping a Healthy Gut
Why your gut health/gut microbiome may be off-balance: Lack of diversity in the foods you eat Not getting enough prebiotic & probiotic rich foods Lack of physical activity Smoking cigarettes Not getting enough sleep High stress levels Regular/high alcohol consumption Eating a diet high in processed foods, refined sugar and/or artificial sweeteners
Foods for a Healthy Gut Eat lots of high fibre, plant-based foods (eg. veggies, fruit, legumes) Eat probiotic-packed foods: fermented foods (kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi), plain yogurt Eat Prebiotic-packed foods (asparagus, bananas, garlic, and onion) Foods rich in polyphenols (cocoa, red wine (1 x 4 oz glass), green tea, broccoli) Bone broth (lightly brewed, which lowers histamines) Galangal broth (a relative to ginger, galangal broth is very gut-soothing) Article sources: