Knowing where to start when it comes to gut health can be tricky. But as with anything, it all beings with slow, gradual and progressive steps in the right direction. Everything begins in the gut. From our immunity to our levels of anxiety to our skin health. The status of our gut health really is the core of it all and will dictate and determine so many aspects of our overall health.
This is why gut health is something we should aim to nourish on a daily basis. My points below are three great places to start.
- Reducing stress levels - Stress causes havoc on the gut microbiome and the entire digestive system. When we are highly stressed this impacts the way in which we digest and absorb nutrients. A stressed body and gut will not be able to properly digest the foods that we eat and therefore we won’t be able to absorb nutrients. You may have heard the saying “We are what we eat” but what this saying should be is “We are what we absorb” because we can only make use of the beneficial foods and nutrients that we eat when our gut is able to digest and absorb these nutrients. So, when you are highly stressed your body will struggle to break things down and disperse these nutrients for use. Reduce stress by adopting a peaceful mindfulness routine daily. This is where journaling comes into play. Did you know that journaling has been shown to be a proven method of reducing high levels of stress and promoting feelings of gratitude? The best place to start when adopting a stress reducing routine is right in the comfort of your own home with your favourite Good Day Journal handy.
- Eat a diverse range of whole foods - Our gut microbiome is populated by thousands and thousands of different types of bacteria and when we eat a diverse range of foods and nutrients we will be contributing to the diversity of the bacteria in our microbiome. All whole foods play a role and contain probiotics, prebiotics, bacteria and nutrients that will support a healthy and thriving gut. By going back to basics and picking a broad range of foods that include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats you will be providing your gut microbiome with the diversity it requires to thrive.
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Reduce your intake of Inflammatory foods - Inflammation is the start of all dis-ease in the body. Inflammation can impact the way we digest foods and cause common digestive disturbances like bloating. Many foods contain inflammatory ingredients that we may not be aware of. These common ingredients include refined sugars, vegetable oils, sunflower oils, canola oils and soybean oil. These foods create an imbalance between your omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids which are pro-inflammatory. Our omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation but when we are consuming so many omega-6 foods every single day it really throws out this balance. So do your best to start reducing your amount of processed foods and start turning your packets around to check out what’s on the ingredient list. If you can see all these oils really high up on the list then opt for something else. Other foods to consider adding into your diet include oily fish, avocado, ginger, turmeric, leafy greens and antioxidant rich fruits.
I hope that these tips help you and give you a good place to start.
For more support on how to nourish your body from the inside out, contact Malissa for a Nutritional Consultation - info@malissafedele.com