Gut health is becoming more and more understood these days. The good news: prevention is better than cure! As the hunger for good gut health grows, we've started to question more and understand how our bodies work — and how they can thrive.
The term "gut microbiome" refers to the microorganisms living in your intestines. Each person has about 200 different species of bacteria, viruses and fungi in their digestive tract. Some are harmful, but many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary for a healthy body. Research indicates that having a large variety of bacteria in the gut may help reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis.
Many parts of modern life can affect your gut microbiome — high stress levels, lack of sleep, a diet of processed and high-sugar foods, and taking antibiotics and medicines. This in turn may affect immune function, hormone levels, weight and the development of diseases. So our gut health is important and not to be overlooked, especially if we have unpleasant toilet visits, stomach sensations or pain frequently.
How to improve gut bacteria through nutrition — foods that support good gut bacteria include: Fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, pickled carrots/pickles/onions, kimchi) to support the breakdown of foods; apple cider vinegar before or after eating, as the acid helps gut bacteria; removing intolerance foods (gluten, seeds and grains can be linked to intolerances, leaky gut and bloating); and collagen-boosting foods (bone broths, bone marrow, even salmon skin) which reduce inflammation and support gut health and function.
So ditch the processed foods and switch them out for the incredible god-given fruits of the earth. Aim for adequate sleep and find new ways to remove stress — try meditation, book a series of sessions in our MINDBODY room such as yoga or pilates, and even give some breath work a try!