Gut health and gut bacteria are a hot area of scientific research, with a growing body of evidence linking widespread health issues to the presence or absence of various microbes.
I really believe that all good health begins with a healthy gut! Most of us do not recognize or know (including most of our doctors) that digestive problems wreak havoc over your entire body leading to allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, hormone imbalances, IBS, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, autism, dementia, cancer and more. (Yowza!)
So while you may be totally annoyed when you feel bloated or have heartburn, having good gut health affects so much more than that! It is central to your entire health—and connected to everything that happens in your body. The health of your gut determines what nutrients are absorbed and what toxins, allergens and microbes are kept out. Therefore, it is directly linked to the health of the total organism. (Psst, that’s you!)
The gut is actually an incredibly important barrier between your body and the outside world. This sounds like a excerpt from the film Inception, but anything inside your gut is technically outside your body because the gut provides several defenses between what you ingest and your bloodstream. That’s why you don’t always get sick even if you swallow some nasty bacteria with your food (which by the way you do every day, nothing is perfectly sterile!).
So your gut health is a huge player in the immune system. It’s your first line of defense between you and anything dangerous you happen to swallow.
Here are some guidelines to help you give your gut some serious TLC every day.
1) Eat whole unprocessed foods with lots of fiber: vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and whole complex grains. This means REAL FOOD, my friends—and mostly plants. Check out Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma to look into this further.
2) Do you have any food sensitivities? If so or you’re not 100% sure, try an elimination diet. Cut out sugar, gluten, dairy, yeast, corn, soy and eggs for a week or two and see how your gut feels and what happens to your other symptoms (i.e. bloating, gas, IBS etc.).
Certain types of cleanses can also be an effective route to help your gut rebalance its bacteria and yeast levels (ie. candida cleanse).
3) Eat probiotic rich foods regularly like sauerkraut, goat milk kefir, kimchee, miso soup, kombucha tea as well as super-food ocean-based plants such as spirulina, chlorella, and blue-green algae.
4) Take a high quality probiotic supplement as well to add healthy bacteria to your tummy ecosystem.
5) Try taking digestive enzymes with your food to keep your gut churning in tip-top shape. Enzymes are particularly good when you are eating a larger meal or foods that are are heavy and rich.
6) Add omega 3 supplements to your regime, which help cool inflammation in the gut.
7) Add in gut-healing nutrients like glutamine and zinc.
8) Try taking one tablespoon of raw organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) in water (with a lil honey if needed) each morning to calm gut imbalances.
Side note: Apple cider vinegar is a more effective treatment for stomach pain than many of the oldies, such as antacids. You might think that stomach pain and related issues are caused by an excess of acid and need to be treated with an antacid. Actually, just the opposite is true! The stomach is naturally acidic, so upset occurs because of an imbalance or lack of acid in the stomach.
It’s crucial to find ways to really tune into what’s happening with your body. This could mean yoga and meditation or by simply taking more time to relax, breathe and really enjoy and chew your food—rather than racing through mealtimes.
Keeping a food journal is also extremely helpful. Write down everything you eat and drink and the time of day for 7 days, then make note of how you feel after each meal. You will be amazed at how much you’ll learn after a week of journaling! (You can sign up for my mailing list and receive your own Fabulous Food Journal here.)
Most people walk around with a general feeling of unwellness, because this is just what they’re used to. As I mentioned earlier, when your gut is off balance it can cause skin issues, fatigue, mood disorders, brain fog, tons of digestive problems—gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea—the list goes on and on. With all these symptoms, many people have no idea what it’s like to feel really great.
If any of those symptoms are extreme—diabetes, autism, extreme mood disorders, severe skin conditions etc.—please see a doctor! Unfortunately, many doctors simply hand out antibiotics for the symptoms without getting to the bottom of the causes. So, I also recommend working with a health coach and a doctor who practices both eastern and western medicine, like a naturopathic doctor.
It’s important to work with someone who understands that food can be both a medicine and a poison—and can help treat any infections or overgrowth of bugs like parasites, small bowel bacteria, or yeasts. Find a person who can help you get your relationship with food and your body in balance.
So what about you? Have you struggled with gut issues? What tips have you found that work for you? Please let me know your thoughts and/or questions in the comments below!
Love & Gut Health!
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