Your gut at the heart of your health

Gut health is vital for  your overall well-being because it is directly related to the bodies ability to increase performance, decrease sickness and improve recovery times. The term ‘gut’ is not limited to your stomach, but it is the region from your mouth to your colon, and everything in between. Having a healthy gut means that you have a good balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria in the lining of your gut.

An unhealthy gut can lead to an array of health problems from chronic inflammation to autoimmune diseases. Keeping the bacterial balance aligned is essential to a strong immune system as our gut regulates inflammation as well as regulating the immune systems in our bodies. Gut health also has a role in our mental health as 90% of serotonin (the happy hormone) is produced in the digestive tract.

The good news is that we can restore our gut health. Eating a variety of food to encourage a diverse range of gut microbes is top of the list. Being mindful to reduce stressful situations (as the brain gut axis are interlinked), practising good sleeping habits and reducing excess sugars in your diet are all good ways to maintain a healthy gut.

Food categories that are winners when looking to improve your gut health are;

Bone broth

You want to get collagen rich foods in your diet as your entire gut lining is made of collagen. Things like chicken broth, beef broth and fish broth are all great ways of getting collagen rich meals to help heal and reseal your gut lining.

Probiotic products 

Think of adding fermented vegetables or fermented dairy products to your diet. What probiotics do is help push out the bad bacteria (which most of us have an over growth of) help protect and create enzymes that help you better digest your food. Things like sauerkraut can be fantastic.

Coconut products 

Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties to also help get rid of bad bacteria. Cooking with coconut oil is ideal. Coconut yoghurts and coconut milks are wonderful gut healthy boosts to any meal.

Herbs and spices 

Ginger is the number one healing herb for your gut as it is anti-inflammatory. Peppermint helps to sooth and seal the digestive tract. Cinnamon is a great spice to add to pumpkin dishes, coffees and smoothies.

Fruits 

Blueberries, bananas and pears are great fruits for gut health.

Cooked vegetables

Cooked pumpkin is a winner as are asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and spinach. They are all very nutrient dense and easy to digest making them the perfect start when you are looking to improve your gut health.

Autumn is the perfect time to breakout the crockpots or slow cookers and brush up on your family favourite stews. As the dishes cook for along time they break down the food so that it is far more easily absorbed by our digestive systems, allowing for greater nutrient absorption.  Remember to cook your meat dishes with their bones and your gut will thank you.