What is gut health?
Gut health is a hot topic and something more of us may be starting to get serious about — why? Because with nearly 70% of the immune system residing in the gut, the health of our digestive systems plays a huge role in the status of our overall health.
We’re sharing what gut health is, why it’s important, and three ways to show your digestive health some love.
What is Gut Health?
There are trillions of bacteria present in the gut and we know that they play a role in helping us maintain balance in the body. The gastrointestinal tract is also responsible for converting the foods we eat into nutrients that we can absorb and then use for energy.
However, while the gut plays a huge role in keeping our digestion happy and healthy, it’s also been linked to other aspects of our health as well, including mental wellbeing and immunity.
This is where having a balanced gut comes into play — by supporting the health of our gut we can give the body what it needs to keep us in tip-top shape.
Read below as we share three ways to show your gut health some serious love.
3 Ways to Show Your Gut Some Love
#1 Enjoy Probiotic-Rich Foods
Adding some probiotic-rich foods to your diet is a great way to give your gut a boost of the healthy bacteria it needs to thrive.
Try adding plant-based options like sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and kombucha to your diet — these are all highly nutritious and gut-friendly foods that make a great addition to a balanced diet.
#2 Reduce Stress
Chronic stress has been shown to negatively affect gut health. This all has to do with the gut-brain axis. The bacteria in the gut and one’s mental health may be able to impact one another, so it’s essential to take care of our gut while also taking care of our mental health.
This means reducing your stress as much as possible. Do something to take care of yourself every single day, even if you can only squeeze in some self-care for 20 minutes at the end of your day.
#3 Exercise Regularly
While exercise may not seem like it would relate to the health of our gut, research has shown that the gut microbiome changes (for the better) with regular exercise. A study found these microbiome changes with 30-60 minutes of exercise just three times per week.
Researchers also found that stopping exercise halted those gut bacteria changes, so it’s something that we have to keep up with.
Try to squeeze in some regular movement into your weekly routine, and choose a form of exercise you’ll actually enjoy! Maybe that’s cycling, dancing, yoga, or Pilates. Just pick something you enjoy so you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
A Healthy Gut = A Healthy You
Our overall health relies on the health of our gut, so make it a priority! Try adding some probiotic-rich foods to your diet, reduce stress when possible, and get exercising regularly. Your gut and overall health will thank you for it.
