Good gut health is so, so important. After all, our gut is like our second brain and is the tell all of our overall health and wellness. Gut health has an impact on your skin, your memory, your focus and so much more. After all, 70% of our immune system is in our gut, so it is important to take good care of it.
Follow my top 10 tips below to achieve a good gut health!
1. Prebiotic’s
We have all heard about the importance of probiotics (see #4), but prebiotics are also super important because they help form good probiotics in the gut. Get it? Pre-biotics. Sources of prebiotics include garlic, sweet potato, apples, and bananas. Get out and give them a try!
2. Fermented Food
These guys are so great for your digestive system; plus, you are probably having some in your diet already. Foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and kombucha are loaded with fermented compounds. They help the microbiome of your digestive system, giving them lots of the good guys to fight the bad. Plus, you don’t need a ton of these to get the benefits – start by trying a glass of kombucha or kefir.
3. Bye Bye Sugar
Ok, so you basically know what I am going to say, but sugar just messes with your gut. It feeds the bad bacteria and stops the good bacteria from growing. Double whammy. This goes for artificial sweeteners too – ditch these guys. Now I know we all love a little sweetness, so reach for something more natural such as honey or maple syrup; these natural sweeteners don’t have any of the bad bacteria to mess with your gut.
Probiotics are great for good gut health! Try one like Align to help your gut!
4. Probiotic
This one you probably already know, but if you didn’t, probiotics are your gut’s happy pills. They give your gut what it needs to flourish and be balanced. There are many strains of probiotic, so do your research to find out which one is right for you!
5. Organic When Possible
Sorry, but I’m not sorry. There are so many nasty chemicals in and on foods these days that going organic when possible is ideal. It is so hard on your system to deal with the extra additives and chemicals in food; things that aren’t really “food”. If you are unable to eat fully organic, I suggest at least buying organic with the dirty dozen.
6. Go Alkaline
If you didn’t know, some foods are acidic and some are alkaline. Acidic foods cause inflammation (in your gut and elsewhere) and also allow bad bacteria to grow. Add more alkaline foods like leafy greens, sprouted legumes and Himalayan salt to lower that inflammation and keep yourself balanced!
Alkaline water, Coconut oil, and peppermint are great for good gut health!
7. Coconut Oil
I seriously love coconut oil; it has so many uses. In the gut, it’s not only easy to digest but also kills the bad bacteria and decreases inflammation. Did I mention it also helps to heal the gut? The best part, because of its chemical composition, your body will only use what it needs from the coconut oil; the rest will be digested right through your system and not stored as fat. Good for the body and the waistline! Cook with it or just swallow a tablespoon!
8. Peppermint
I’m even drinking peppermint tea as I write this! It helps you digest fats, relaxes smooth muscles (bye bye cramping) and can help with IBS symptoms. I love making peppermint tea or adding fresh mint to salads and water. (For more detail, check out my post on the 5 reasons this leafy wonder is so great!)
9. Bone Broth
This stuff helps your gut heal like almost nothing else. The collagen in bone broth heals the gut lining and reduces inflammation. Yes, please.
10. Don’t Eat when Angry or Stressed
When your adrenaline is pumping, your digestion is the last thing on your body’s mind. Meaning it’s going to cause an upset stomach, bloating and even inflammation. Avoid when possible, and try to reach for a cup of tea to relax.
Do you have any tips you use for good gut health? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to sign-up for our mailing list!