28 Nov Look after your gut, so it can look after you!

Everyone is buzzing about the importance of gut health and it’s extremely exciting! The movement is challenging old fashioned, damaging fad diets and shifting towards a holistic approach. Inevitably, this will eliminate ‘quick fix yo-yo diets’ and enable maintainable results. But what is gut health, why is it so important and what can you do to achieve it?

Gut Health 101

A healthy gut has an absence of any digestion issues. During the digestive process, we rely on gut flora, a complex community of microorganisms present in the digestive tract, to ferment dietary fibre into short-chain fatty acids, synthesise vitamin B and K, and metabolise bile acids, sterols, and xenobiotics. Sound like gibberish? Basically, in addition to boosting our immune system and regulating our metabolism, these internal processes help prevent illness’, such as influenza and cancer, hormonal imbalances, inflammatory issues and autoimmune conditions.

Research has found a direct link between our gut and many key bodily functions – it is central to our health and well-being. To allow you to thrive, both physically and mentally, there are several changes you need to make to your current diet and regime.

So, what can you eat?

To boost healthy gut bacteria, you need to create diversity within your gut. This is achieved by eating a variety of plant-based and live-cultured food, including:

– Cruciferous vegetables (eg broccoli, cauliflower)

– Bananas

– Beans

– Jerusalem Artichokes

– Blueberries

– Kimchee

– Sauerkraut

– Coconut Kefir

– Kombucha

– Sweet Potato

– Tempeh

– Polenta

These foods all have a different role to play; from stabilising gut bacteria and boosting vitamin and nutrient absorption to reducing inflammation and strengthening intestinal walls. Combining these sources with regular exercise and limiting processed foods, causes a chain reaction that will optimise your overall well-being. Processed foods include refined sugars, preservatives, additives, artificial colours and flavours, wheat, GMO, MSG, gluten and dairy.

In a Nutshell

When your gut is healthy and thriving, there’s an undeniable increase, not only your energy levels and cognitive ability but also, fat loss, cellulite reduction, skin clarity, strength and muscle growth – just to name a few. Put it to the test, increase your consumption of plant-based and live-cultured foods, limit your intake of processed foods and exercise daily! Implementing these three key components, will form a strong foundation for your gut to flourish. Throw away your ‘detox tea, slim-shakes and juice diets’! Join the movement and reap the long-term benefits, of looking after your gut, so it can look after you.