Your gut health goes far beyond just your digestion, it’s like your second brain! It’s your immune system’s gatekeeper and a major key to your overall wellness. Having a balanced gut microbiome can improve your mood, skin, sleep, energy levels, and even how your body manages weight. If you’re looking for ways to boost your health from the inside out, look no further. Here are five proven tips for gut health and your overall optimal wellness!
5 Proven Tips for Optimal Gut Health!
Fuel with Fiber-Rich, Plant-Based Foods
Making it a point to eat more fiber-rich, plant-based foods such as leafy greens, legumes, berries, bananas, apples, oats, and quinoa means helping feed the good bacteria in your gut, which in turn means better gut health! When good bacteria thrive, they create short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which help to reduce inflammation and strengthen the lining of your gut. Having a more plant-rich diet and diversifying your microbiome is the true key to better gut health, and helps create better digestion, clearer skin, and steadier energy!
Probiotics & Fermented Foods
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that support gut diversity and help to restore balance after you’ve used antibiotics or have been overwhelmingly stressed. Fermented foods such as yogurt with live cultures, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, and kombucha, all naturally contain this important healthy bacteria, which means to optimize your gut health, these are a must add to any diet. On top of that, it can also help to put you in a better mood, have stronger immunity, and reduce bloating!
Support Digestion by Staying Hydrated
For optimal gut health, water is truly so important. It helps move food through your digestive tract and prevents constipation. This also supports the lining of the intestines, which aids nutrient absorption and protects gut integrity! Consider getting 8-10 cups per day and add in lemon or cucumbers for added minerals. Herbal teas like ginger and peppermint can be used to further support digestion, too!
Reduce Stress
Consider how you might be able to do this with a Mind-Gut Technique. When under chronic stress, it alters the gut’s bacteria, increases inflammation, and can trigger other symptoms like IBS or bloating. The gut-brain connection means that mindfulness can directly impact your digestive health, so try spending 10 minutes per day working on your meditation and deep breathing. You can also do some gentle movements like yoga or walking, and even take the time to journal or use talk therapy. This will also help you to sleep better, strengthen emotional resilience, and less gut discomfort altogether!
Prioritize Quality Sleep
Your gut microbiome follows a circadian rhythm, and poor sleep disrupts that cycle, which then causes a bacterial imbalance and inflammation. It’s critical for you to have quality rest to allow your digestive system to reset and repair. Try aiming for 7-9 hours per night, and work to create a wind-down routine, such as no screens before going to bed. You can also try magnesium-rich snacks before bed, like bananas or almonds. On top of helping your gut, prioritizing quality sleep will also help you have more focus, stronger overall immunity, and even, a few cravings!
Final Thoughts
When your microbiome is balanced, the benefits ripple across your entire body, from your brain to your skin. These 5 simple but powerful changes can create lasting improvements in how you feel every day. Start small, stay consistent, and literally, trust your gut. It knows what it takes to be optimized, and it starts from within!
