Prioritising Gut Health

You are what you eat

Studies emphasise that one of the most crucial ways to enhance gut health is through a balanced diet. Incorporate:

• Foods rich in prebiotics, such as garlic, onion, asparagus, fruits, whole grains, and beans, which nourish the beneficial bacteria in your gut.

• Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir, all packed with powerful probiotics.

• Foods rich in protein, as they provide amino acids that support gut lining repair.

• Foods rich in omega-3s such as extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado in your diet to keep inflammation in check.
  

Gut feeling

Changes in our gut have a direct and meaningful impact on how we feel. An unhealthy gut can alter our mood and thoughts. Really??? Yep! This occurs because our gut is home to the enteric nervous system, which connects to the central nervous system in the brain.

Do you also notice when you are feeling low or anxious, you experience gas, bloating, or diarrhea? Studies show that psychological stress suppresses good bacteria.

How can we improve our mental and physical state??? One way of doing that is by practicing gentle movements like yoga or walking in nature. These activities often result in an increased composition of good gut bacteria.

Goodnight, sleep tight

Studies suggest better sleep supports the production and maintenance of good gut bacteria, so it makes sense that a disturbed sleep can be a sign that our gut is trying to tell us something. The microbes (bacteria and other micro-organisms) in our gut, support our body’s production of sleep-regulating hormones like melatonin, serotonin and dopamine. Without these, our circadian rhythm is disrupted.