Our bodies carry trillions of bacteria which mostly take house in our intestines. This gut bacteria is known as gut microbiota. Most bacteria in our gut is healthy for us but there are types that can lead to illnesses. When intestines are out of sync, it can gravely effect the rest of the body. The intestines have just about as many nerves as the brain does. These nerves all feed off of each other and need to be in sync to feel good.
There is so much talk about having a healthy gut, but what is that? How do you keep your gut healthy? Follow these rules and you will know more about how to have a healthy gut, then you ever thought you would!
- Eat more fiber. Fiber helps your digestive system in so many ways. It allows for waste to continually flow through your digestive system. It helps reduce the risks of diabetes, lowers cholesterol, helps reduce weight. To add more fiber into your diet, simply eat more leafy greens, fruits, breads with more then 2 grams of fiber, and flax seeds.
- Chew your food. When you take your time and eat, food is digested better. Many people are so busy and are eating quickly with barely chewing food. This can cause overeating because your body does not know it is full until 20 minutes after you become full. So if you slow down and chew carefully, you may realize you are full when you actually are. Eating the right amount of portions eliminates the crash that many people feel after eating a large meal. That crash is when your digestive system is overloaded trying to digest large amounts of food. So be easy on your gut and take time to savor your meal.
- Eat the rainbow. Eating all colors of fruits and vegetables is so important to your body. Not only does it look pretty on your plate, it also provides your body with a full range of nutrients and vitamins. Kale, beets, carrots, spinach, grapes, peaches, strawberries, and blueberries are a great way to start!
- Fermented foods boost digestion. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics which aid in digestion and stronger immunity. There are so many fermented foods on the market these days that you can buy easily and also taste great too! Some items that you can buy at the grocery store are yogurt, sourdough bread, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.
- Eat clean. Eat foods that are all natural and whole are best for you. Get rid of the processed snacks. Once you start eating whole foods, you will realize the processed foods don’t even taste good. When you want a snack, reach for almonds instead of Oreos. This will aid in you feeling so much better. Many times people don’t even realize they feel sluggish until they change their diet. You will be so much happier eating whole clean foods that you can pronounce all the ingredients of.
The easy golden rule is that if the ingredient has a long name that you can not pronounce, don’t eat it! Most likely it is not a whole food and doesn’t belong in your body. Take care of your gut, by eating well and reducing with amount of junk you are consuming. You will feel so much better and will have higher satiety.