Go With Your Gut

Gut health has become a hot topic over the last few years, and for good reason—it turns out, going with your gut affects a lot more than just your intuition!  

A healthy gastrointestinal system is essential to your body’s overall healthy function. In fact, your gut impacts a huge variety of your body’s other organs and systems—heart and cholesterol, kidneys, and even brain health. Ongoing studies are even starting to show that the bacteria in your gut can affect emotion. What we’re learning? A happy belly means a happier life! 

Your gut health really comes down to the little things. There is a ton of bacteria in our guts, and most of it is actually good for you. These microbiomes (bacterial microorganisms) help break down food into nutrients that the rest of your body can use. The good microbiomes keep the bad bacteria in check so tummy systems all run smoothly. Ultimately, the goal of gut health is to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria. This balance is called “equilibrium,” and it’s affected by both genetics and healthy habits. 

We are all born with a specific set of gut microbiomes. Because we are all unique, our gut microbiomes are all slightly different—sort of like a fingerprint! But it isn’t all in the genes. What we eat can slightly shift the balances of our microbiomes in either a positive or negative direction. This means that consulting with your physician and paying attention to what your body is telling you is key to keeping your gastrointestinal tract happy and healthy. Let’s talk about three main components of gut health that you can influence just by the things you eat!

1.    Probiotics. Probiotics are helpful, live microorganisms that can actually positively impact or even restore gut flora. Probiotics can be consumed by eating probiotic-rich foods or taking a trusted, high quality, well-tested supplement. Some good food sources of probiotics include: 

• Yogurt and cheeses (check the label for listed live-ingredients like L. acidophilus)
• Kimchi
• Sauerkraut
• Pickles
• Other fermented foods

Remember that everyone’s microbiome is unique. Not everything works the same for everyone, so consult with your doctor as you experiment to find what probiotic source is right for you.  

2.    Prebiotics. Like any living thing, probiotics (live microorganisms) need food to survive. Enter prebiotics! These food compounds feed probiotics, help improve your body’s intake of calcium, and boost the growth of healthy bacteria. Luckily, you can find good sources of prebiotics in foods you most likely eat every day. Try: 

• Bananas
• Onions
• Garlic
• Leeks
• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Soybeans or tofu
• Whole wheat

3.    Synbiotics. When prebiotics and probiotics combine, they become a powerhouse—a synbiotic! Synbiotics help probiotics live longer, so combining your pre- and probiotics during meal and snack times is a great way to maximize the way you care for your gut. Find pre- and probiotic food combinations you love and start incorporating them into your diet to give your gut some extra self-care. We suggest: 

• Bananas (pre) + Yogurt (pro)
• Tofu (pre) + kimchi (pro)
• Whole wheat toast (pre) + cottage cheese (pro)

Of course, the suggestions above aren’t the only good foods for your gut health. Leafy greens, polyphenols (think colorful foods and teas), high-fiber foods, and collagen-promoting foods are also great additions to your diet. Making a morning tea is a great way to kick your tummy’s day off in the right way—we love making ours with chamomile or green tea and adding a few drops of essential oil. Here’s our recipe for Tea with Ginger oil and Fennel oil!

In your journey to a healthier gut, try avoiding excess red meats, fried foods, foods with added antibiotics, excess alcohol, and too much caffeine from coffee, soda, or even chocolate. 
At the end of the day, keeping up on healthy food habits and consulting with your doctor is the best way to give your belly the royal treatment it deserves. You know yourself better than anyone—just go with your gut.