Happy gut – happy life! So true. If you have ever had any issues with your belly, you know how this totally affects your entire life. Indigestion, stomach cramps, bloating, anxiety, depression and difficulties sleeping are anything BUT fun. We do know now that the happier our midsection, the healthier our nervous, immune, and enteric system. Those trillions of gut bacteria residing within us directly impact on our overall health and well-being through various pathways. For me this can mean only one thing: I am on a mission to keep my gut as healthy and my life as happy as possible! Are you with me?
Foods to increase to keep your gut happy
- Leafy greens
Such as kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, watercress…
These healthy-licious green vegetables hold an enzyme that is very powerful at feeding good gut bacteria and in doing so keeping the bad gut bacteria in check
- Cruciferous vegetables
Such as red cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts…
Are nourishing your gut with lots of health boosting polyphenols, fibre and may protect your gut lining by triggering gut receptors.
- Fermented foods
Such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, kefir…
They boost your gut with a delicious army of good bacteria-soldiers.
- Omega-3 fatty acids
Such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, salmon, sardines…
Such beautifying fats help to keep the integrity of your gut lining in place, they are anti-inflammatory power-houses and boost microbial diversity.
- Fibre
Soluble fibre such as in beans, oats, rice bran, apples, peas, citrus fruits feed your good gut bacteria
Insoluble fibre such as in whole-grains, vegetables and fruits add bulk to stool and speeds up transit process through your digestive system preventing constipation and colon cancer.
- Polyphenols
Such as dark berries, raw cacao, green tea, spices like cinnamon, ginger, cumin, cloves, dried herbs like parsley, seeds like flax-seeds, nuts like almonds and walnuts, vegetables like red chicory, artichokes, and apples.
These little potent plant molecules are powerful antioxidants, reduce inflammation and are often hard to digest and therefore end up in our colon where they happily feed good bacteria.
Foods to avoid to keep your gut happy
- Highly processed foods
Are high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats which all increase inflammation in the body. In addition, they reduce the diversity of the healthy bacteria in your tummy leaving it more vulnerable to disease.
- Alcohol
Leads to higher oxidative stress in your gut which leads to increased inflammation and leaky gut syndrome
- Gluten
Increases the permeability of the gut which then leads to systemic inflammation and autoimmune disease
- Dairy
Digestion of dairy is difficult for many people
Antibiotics residues in dairy products reduce healthy bacteria
You all know that I love eating! Eating well that is!!! Nourishing my body, mind and soul with foods that bring the best out in me. That help me minimise my stress levels, stay focused, joyful, feel amazing and get things done. Living my life in any other way does not make sense to me. Why would I not eat myself well and beautiful if I can? Hey, life is way too short to not make every minute of it count in all its most delicious ways. Don’t you agree?