Want to improve your gut health? We all could use a bit of that because it impacts so many aspects of our well-being! Here are some expert tips to help you boost your gut health and live a healthier life starting today.
Your gut is often the first part of your body to signal when something is wrong—hence the term “gut feeling.” It’s like the control center of your health, packed with good and bad bacteria that influence your overall well-being. A healthy gut is crucial not just for your physical health, but for your mental health too. By keeping your stomach in good shape, you can fend off various gastrointestinal issues, manage your weight, and maintain a stable mental condition.
Creating the right balance of bacteria in your gut is something you can achieve, but remember: You are what you eat. One of the toughest but most important changes is cutting out refined sugars and artificial sweeteners found in processed foods. Your gut harbors both good and bad bacteria, and your health hinges on which bacteria you choose to feed. Bad bacteria thrive on these sugars, which help them grow and multiply—same with starches, which are essentially glucose molecules (a type of sugar).
If your body doesn’t need all that glucose, it will store it in your liver, muscles, and fat deposits. Good fats, however, are essential. They support healthy brain function and help build strong cells. A good balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats can be achieved by eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and by including nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts in your diet. These nuts are rich in healthy fats and can help protect against heart disease. It’s also wise to cut back on butter and opt for unsaturated oils like vegetable, canola, and olive oil.
Homemade soups and stocks are incredibly nutritious because they incorporate many different minerals in one meal. The main ingredients—animal bones—are packed with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other nutrients that aid digestion, improve bone density, and help your body use proteins from meat more efficiently. This is one reason why chicken soup is often considered a remedy for various ailments.
Living foods, which still have active enzymes, are also essential. They include raw and fermented foods that aid digestion and help your body absorb nutrients. Foods like raw fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and unpasteurized dairy products like sour cream, yogurt, or buttermilk are all great choices.
Probiotics are the good bacteria in our bodies that we need to stay healthy. While it’s ideal to get these from food, sometimes supplements are necessary to boost your gut’s good bacteria. Fermented cod liver oil is another great addition to your diet, as it provides high levels of vitamins A and D and omega-3 fats.
Balancing your nutrition can be challenging, especially with so much conflicting information out there. However, these tips can help keep your gut in good shape and improve your overall health. Personally, I recommend the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) Lifestyle, which involves avoiding processed foods, as well as sugars, starches, and grains.
