Why is gut health so important? The phrase, “listen to your gut.” says it all! Although it is used in the context to help you make decision’s and what your ‘gut’ is telling you is right or wrong, your gut is also a significant contribution to your overall health. I didn’t understand about gut health until I started drinking kombucha. I saw on the bottles that it said “great for your gut!” and “good source of probiotics” but I had zero clues what that meant. I began researching it like a mad woman because I wanted to learn more and hopefully understand if it could help me. Of course, it was a huge bonus because I fell in love with drinking kombucha.
Anyway, I always thought of your gut as basically stomach fat and thought that if I drank kombucha, it would get rid of my ‘gut’ lol, I was so wrong.
What is the gut?
Let me start by explaining what the heck your gut even is technically called; it’s your Gastrointestinal tract. It includes the esophagus, your large intestine, small intestine, etc. Which means its primary job is to help break down food and nutrients. It also assists in eliminate wastes or bacteria that cannot be digested. Your gut is made of good and bad bacteria and surprisingly needs to be fed “good bacteria” to remain healthy.
There are forms of bacteria which do different things to help keep good bacteria thriving in the gut which are prebiotics and probiotics. Here are the differences:
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are dietary fibers that feed the good bacteria (probiotics) and great for your good bacteria. Foods such as asparagus, garlic, bananas, onions, etc. are rich in fibers. You can also get prebiotics in a supplement form too.
Probiotics
Probiotics are the good bacteria that I keep talking about which are essential to maintaining a healthy gut. There are many ways to get your probiotics, the first being a supplement form which contain a range of probiotics. Lately, I have been using a Coconut Cult probiotic yogurt. It has billions of probiotics in just one spoonful! I’ll consume 1-2 tbs in the morning on an empty stomach. I used to take a supplement capsule form every morning. Being on a budget, I find that it’s cheaper and easier to get the coconut cult! Then there is always traditional Coconut yogurt which is another great way to get probiotics. I eat coconut yogurt as a replacement for regular yogurt and top it with berries and granola which is so delicious!
Lastly, there are fermented foods which contain probiotics such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and tempeh or my favorite which is simply drinking KOMBUCHA.
Collagen filled foods are also fantastic for your gut
I take a collagen supplement every morning, but I also love to drink/eat bone broth. In the winter I will make chicken soup with bone broth versus chicken broth as my base. It tastes incredible, and it is perfect for the extra nutrients needed when you are sick! You can find bone broth right next to the chicken broth on the grocery store shelves, or you can even make it yourself. Bone broth is the bone marrow from bones that are boiled for several hours. The marrow from the bones are filled with collagen, and is great for the gut overall. I often get weird looks when I tell people about bone broth. However, it tastes like chicken broth but with amazing benefits!
Signs of unhealthy gut
A healthy gut is everything for digestion! You can be eating perfectly healthy, but if your gut isn’t healthy, well that food isn’t going to digest well and cause inflammation in the stomach. Your gut essentially controls your life. Signs that your gut isn’t healthy are constant bloating, stomach pains after you eat, inflammation in the skin (breakouts), weight fluctuation, constant fatigue, food intolerance, and yes, constipation (sorry I know GROSS!) or worse irritable bowel.
To keep my gut health, I take a form of probiotics and ensure that I am eating foods high in prebiotics every day. I have seen a MAJOR difference in my skin and stomach discomfort. Often I got bloated after I ate and now the bloating and stomach pains have reduced drastically. I have a very sensitive stomach, which is one of the main reasons why I eat so healthy.
Many people often say to me “just eat the piece of pizza,” and yes sometimes I will eat the pizza. However later, I will be doubled over in pain and have to take tums ASAP. For example, I remember it was my second week being at college and I was trying to get used to the food I was now eating. I felt so uncomfortable and was laying on this rock outside the dorms in a ball while waiting on my friends. This is why gut health is so important to me now, everything from stomach pains, intense bloating, breakouts have drastically reduced when I stay on a healthy diet. Have I convinced you on how important gut health is?
Until next time, thanks for Hanging With Haley!