Gut health is important — here’s how to improve yours

What is gut health?

Gut health refers to the gut microbiome, which is made up of millions of different bacteria, fungi, and microbes that help the body regulate immune function, appetite, digestion, and nutrient processing, all working together. to improve overall health, energy levels and mental function.

Research in this area is still ongoing, but we know that diet, stress levels, alcohol consumption, lack of prebiotics in the diet, lack of regular physical activity, and smoking all have an impact on gut health. There are various factors that cause

With this in mind, it’s important to note that while there are general things everyone can incorporate into their daily lives to maintain gut health, many of them are personal. The difficulty with gut health is that everyone’s body is different and responds differently to different stimuli.

Studies have shown that even identical twins with the same DNA respond differently to the exact same foods.

Many of the dietary factors that affect gut health result from lack of food diversity, increased processed foods, and stressors in everyday life.

food and gut health

The food we eat is one of the major influences on gut health.

Foods that support gut health include whole plant foods (you should try to eat a wide variety of plants each week), and fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fermented foods. included. You should also try to reduce your intake of processed foods.

As Irish, our natural diets are very familiar with whole foods and fiber-rich foods, but the presence of fermented foods is not always completely familiar to us.

While there are some things we eat and enjoy in our diets like yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and aged cheese, there are other great fermented foods that provide our bodies with additional beneficial bacteria to help maintain gut health. These include: miso (originally a Japanese and Chinese fermented soybean paste rich in gut-friendly bacteria and perfect with fish and vegetables), kombucha (contains essential minerals and vitamins). Carbonated fermented teas and bacterial cultures, a delicious alternative to soft drinks) and kefir (a fermented drink containing live yeast and bacteria, a great option with oats or smoothies, and can be made from milk or water).

There is no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to gut health. It may take some trial and error to find the approach that works for you, and you may need to modify this.

The important thing is to review your diet to see if you can make changes to help your bowels. If you want to read more, eat healthy By Dr. Megan Rossi is an interesting resource.

Wellness Tips: Try introducing some new foods into your diet. This could be trying vegetables you haven’t eaten in a while or trying new fermented foods. Remember – diversity is key.

Fitness Tips: Make sure you get enough quality sleep. Lack of sleep also has a significant impact on athletic and mental performance.