According to studies, there is a link between gut health and overall health. Gut health affects mental health, skin conditions, immune system, cancer, mood, endocrine disorders and autoimmune diseases.
What this means is, you should take care of your gut health.
However, how do you improve your gut health?
- Use Probiotics and Prebiotics
The gut has about 500 types of bacteria. These microorganisms living in the gut that also include viruses and yeast are often referred to as the gut microbiome. While you need some of the bacteria to have a healthy body, others are harmful. To improve your gut health, you have to consider these microorganisms.
Probiotics are good live bacteria. When you take them, you provide your gut with more good bacteria and improve the health of your stomach. You can get these bacteria from fermented products such as probiotics supplements and yogurt.
Probiotics help to change the composition of the microbiota and improve gut health. Studies have shown that they improve the functioning of certain gut bacteria.
Yogurt is rich in lactobacilli, which is a beneficial bacterium. However, it is recommended that you take natural yogurt since it has lower sugar levels.
Prebiotics are food that enhances the growth of gut bacteria such as complex carbs and fibers. These are found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Check Your Diet
Gut health can be affected by the food you eat. Eat food high in fiber, lean protein, vegetables and fruits. Reduce the intake of processed food and those high in fats and sugar.
Foods high in fiber include legumes, beans, broccoli, green peas, and whole grains.
Fruits include almonds, apples, blueberries, and artichokes.
- Eat slowly
When you eat food slowly, you chew it thoroughly, which helps in proper digestion. This enables the nutrients to be absorbed fully and therefore reduces digestive discomforts.
Also, you can take digestive enzymes to prevent indigestion and improve gut health.
- Food Intolerance
Foot intolerance can affect your gut health. It means that your gut has difficulty digesting certain foods. That is why when you eat trigger foods, you get symptoms that include bloating, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and acid reflux. To prevent this and improve your gut health, you need to identify foods that you are intolerant to and avoid eating them.
- Drink plenty of water
Water helps to maintain the right balance of gut bacteria. It is also beneficial to the mucus lining the intestines. Therefore, to improve your gut health, take plenty of water. It is recommended that an adult should drink up to 8 glasses of water in a day.
- Reduce Stress Levels
Do you feel your stomach ache when you are stressed? Stress affects the gut as well as the rest of your body. So, if you want a healthy gut, you need to get rid of stress. You could try meditation, yoga, taking a walk, laughing, and spending time with family or friends. If these don’t work, it may be worthwhile to contemplate visiting a therapist.
- Get Enough Sleep
You should get 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night as an adult. If you don’t, then your gut health will suffer, and you may end up having more sleep problems in the long run. The bottom line is that you should visit a doctor if you experience sleep problems.
