How To Improve Your Gut Health
- keysha chua
- Jul 27, 2022
- 2 min read
What Is Gut Health?
Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract. These bacteria, yeasts, and viruses are also called
“the gut microbiome” or “gut flora”. Many microbes are beneficial for human health, and some are even essential. Others can be harmful, especially when they multiply.
Why Is Gut Health Important?
Proper gut health and maintaining the right balance of microorganisms is vital for physical and mental health, and immunity. Gut flora helps break down food and turns nutrients into resources your body can use. Not only do these microbes help in maintaining proper digestion, but studies indicate that the balance of bacteria in the microbiome may affect your emotions and the way the brain processes sense information like sight, sound, texture, or flavor.
Ways to Improve Gut Health
1. Exercise Regular, light exercise has so many health benefits, but one of the more interesting perks is that physical activity can improve your gut bacteria. Yoga, light resistance training, or a nice walk can increase certain microbes in the gastrointestinal tract to aid bowel movements and help reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases.
2. Try Kombucha Kombucha has been around for thousands of years, first brewed in China. The basic ingredients in kombucha are yeast, sugar, and black tea. This mix is set aside for a week as acids form in the drink. Kombucha is believed to be good for digestion and helps rid the body of toxins. Kombucha is not a magic “cure all” elixir, but when enjoyed in moderation can provide gut healthy benefits.
3. No Need To Avoid Coffee Debating whether to have that second cup of coffee? Research indicates that moderate caffeine consumption can lead to a healthy gut microbiome, and that coffee drinkers were generally healthier than those who consumed little to no coffee.
4. Seek Probiotic Supplements Your digestive system is made up of trillions of good and bad bacteria. Probiotics help keep this delicate system running smoothly by supporting the good bacteria. Certain supplements and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut are good probiotic sources. It’s recommended to take probiotics 20-30 minutes before mealtime.
5. Consume Healthy Prebiotic Foods Prebiotics feed and nourish the friendly bacteria in the gut and boost immunity. They are naturally found in foods like bananas, garlic, asparagus, and in supplemental fibers like chicory root. Though there isn’t a common recommended time to take prebiotics, it’s probably best to take them two hours before or after any other medication. 6. Go With Your Gut The digestive tract is quite complex. Where trillions of microorganisms converge to keep digestion in good working order. So keep it simple: eat right, avoid certain foods, and stay active. This will help keep your gut health moving in the right direction.
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*this is for project purposes*
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