Gut health describes the function and balance of bacteria in the many parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The gut is extremely complex and needs to be taken care of, in ways you may not even realize it can be affected.
Many studies over time have linked gut health with the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, and cancer. Meaning, your gut health is much more important than just feeling overweight, it can affect many areas of your body. To learn more about gut health, check out our other post.
How Can I Improve My Gut Health?
Lower Your Stress
When you have high levels of stress on your body, it can be hard for it, especially your gut. Try to lower your stress by walking, meditating, anything that makes you feel calmer and more at ease.
Sleep
Something that is crucial in improving your gut health is getting enough sleep. Additionally, the quality of sleep. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, uninterrupted.
Eat Slower
Rushing to eat your food is hard on the gut. Chewing your food slowly and thoroughly and can ultimately improve your digestion and help maintain a healthy gut.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is great for your gut, but your whole body in general. Drinking lots of water has shown to have a positive effect on the mucosal lining of the intestines and balances the good bacteria in your gut.
Probiotics
Adding a probiotics supplement to your diet is a fantastic way to improve gut health. Probiotics are a combination of live bacteria and yeasts that naturally live in your body. The bacteria in a probiotic control inflammation, help your body digest food, create vitamins, break down and absorb medications, and control the bad bacteria from making you sick.
Check for Food Intolerances
If you suffer from cramping, bloating or any abdominal pain, you may have a food intolerance. Today, it’s very common to have a gluten or lactose intolerance. These intolerances cause unpleasant symptoms to our bodies and add a lot of inflammation. If you are able to identify what foods are causing stomach pain, you can remove it from your diet and see a beneficial change to your gut health.
Switch Up Your Diet
Eating healthier will always contribute to better gut health. Reducing the number of processed foods, high-fat foods and high-sugar foods will help. Additionally, there are foods that can improve gut health such as:
- High-fiber foods
- Collagen-boosting foods
- Fermented foods
- Garlic and onion
Options Medical Weight Loss, St. Petersburg, insists on having a healthy gut. The gut has a huge impact on our entire body and well-being. Eat better, sleep more, and ultimately feel better.