Gut Health
Our digestive system is a long, muscular tube that works with other parts of the body to break down food and drink into smaller molecules of nutrients. These are then carried through the bloodstream for cells to use for energy, growth, and repair.
When your digestive system is not working properly, you can experience a wide range of symptoms. These include constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and bad breath.
The good news is that most of these problems can be improved with simple diet and lifestyle changes. The most important things to remember are to avoid highly processed foods and eat a variety of plant-based foods that support healthy gut bacteria.
A diet that is high in sugar, for example, can be detrimental to your gut microbiome because it provides yeasts and other opportunistic pathogens with the fuel they need to proliferate.
It’s also important to eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Fermented foods, such as kefir, miso and tempeh, can also encourage healthy gut microbes.
Lastly, it’s important to get plenty of sleep, exercise and manage stress. All of these habits can help your digestive system work its best.
Aside from the obvious eating habits, some of the other factors that can impact your gut health are taking antibiotics frequently, limiting alcohol, and smoking. All of these can have a significant impact on your gut health and should be avoided if possible.
