Gut Health

Your digestive system has a massive impact on your overall wellbeing. Not only does it allow your body to absorb the nutrients you eat, it also influences your mood and mental health.

Healthy gut bacteria help you to digest food and produce vitamins, as well as immune molecules to fight inflammation and heal wounds. The microbiome is a complex community of 100 trillion different bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract.

Keeping your gut healthy means maintaining the good bacteria in your gut, and avoiding foods that suppress them or promote bad ones. To do this, eat a wide range of plant-based foods like vegetables, fruit, nuts and whole grains.

Avoiding foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat and processed ingredients will also keep your gut healthy. Talk to your doctor about the best foods for gut health and make a plan of action that works for you.

Probiotic and prebiotic diets are also key to a healthy gut. These are foods that feed the good bacteria in your gut, such as garlic, asparagus and apples.

Physical Activity is also essential to gut health, as it helps the microbes in your intestines thrive. Research has shown that people who exercise daily have healthier and more diverse microbiomes.

There are many lifestyle habits that you can incorporate into your life that will have a positive effect on your gut health, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. However, unless you are extremely ill, it is best to work slowly and cautiously when making changes to your diet.