Gut Health, Simplified: 3 Steps to a Happier You
Gut Health, Simplified: 3 Steps to a Happier You
Your body is host to unbelievable quantities of microorganisms that inhabit every nook and cranny of their host - that's you!
But the largest collections of these microorganisms reside in your gut - or gastrointestinal tract.
The combination of these good and bad bacteria, some enzymes and what they all produce is known as your microbiome and is entirely unique to you.
When your microbiome becomes out of balance and you have a dominance of bad bacteria, you experience the symptoms of poor gut health.
Whilst poor gut health is responsible for a whole host of symptoms, the most common ones are:
1) Wind and bloating
2) Indigestion or heartburn shortly after eating
3) Diarrhoea or constipation - and sometimes both
4) Food sensitivities, or, worse, allergies.
5) Frequent coughs & colds.
The good news is that your gut health can be improved relatively easily. And here are 3 simple steps you can take:
Be aware of what you eat.
1)Remove refined sugar and processed foods from your diet.
2) Eat more vegetables. These provide a healthy source of carbohydrates and will help to populate your gut with healthy, diverse bacteria.
3) Include fermented foods in your diet. Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, pickles, natural unprocessed yoghurt and kombucha all populate your gut with healthy bacteria.
Take probiotic supplements
Probiotics are the live bacteria and yeasts that are particularly good for your digestive system and so for your health.
These bacteria line your digestive tract and boost your body's ability to absorb nutrients and also to fight infection.
But like everything, do your research and make sure you're buying the right probiotic for your particular needs. Many manufacturers produce combinations of strains that target specific problems - such as wind or diarrhoea.
Reduce your levels of stress.
Being able to relax is one of the most important factors for ensuring good gut health.
It is now known that if your microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to anxiety, tiredness and even depression.
If you are constantly in a stressful state, it can only exacerbate the situation resulting in an accelerating downward spiral.
To help combat this, it is useful to take the time to relax before you eat whilst try to remove yourself from stressful situations.
These 3 simple steps can have a big impact on your health. But whilst they may seem simple, the trick (and hard part) is to incorporate them into your everyday routine - in fact, make them habitual.
Once you do, you'll see and feel the difference they bring to your life.