2-6 pounds. That's how much bacteria is in our bodies. Although that number might seem high, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of our bodily function is controlled or influenced by the bacteria that makes up our microbiome. Bacteria might get a bad rap because it can make us sick, but the vast majority of bacteria in our bodies is actually beneficial and necessary for staying healthy! [1] Curious about what you can do to ensure your gut stays healthy and strong? We have 5 easy tips!
Don’t Kill the Bacteria! Over the past decade we’ve become a bit germ obsessed. It seems like almost everyone carries around a little bottle of anti-bacterial gel nowadays. The problem with using anti-bacterial gels and creams, and even abusing antibiotics, is that while these things do kill the bad bacteria, they also kill the good bacteria. Our bodies need good bacteria to function properly so using these products minimally is your best bet.
Keep Your Diet Clean: Processed carbohydrates and excess sugars have been shown to cause an imbalance in the gut. If you struggle with digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea or stomach aches you might also want to consider avoiding things like dairy, gluten and grains as these can be hard to digest and may negatively affect your gut health. Stick with whole, unprocessed foods and you will be supporting your microbiome! [2]
Supplement: Sometimes a healthy diet isn’t enough and we need to support our gut health with supplements. A good quality probiotic, Amazing Plant Protein, and wheatgrass powder supplements are great options to support your body’s gut health.
Eat Fermented Foods: Fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, yogurt and kombucha are rich in probiotics. In addition to taking a probiotic supplement, including at least one of these foods into your diet on a daily basis can help keep your gut functioning properly. Bone broth, although not fermented, is another great option to support gut health.[2]
Avoid Stress & Get Enough Sleep: Our bodies' different systems work in symbiosis with one another. New research has shown that gut health can be negatively affected when other aspects of our bodies aren’t functioning properly. For example, a lack of sleep or a particularly stressful time can negatively affect our gut health. To support not just our microbiome but also our hormones, lymphatic system, etc., it is important to treat our bodies well across the board.[3]
[1] “NIH Human Microbiome Project defines normal bacterial makeup of the body”. National Institutes of Health. 13 June 2012. Web. 3 August 2016.
[2] Perlmutter, David. “8 Tips to Reset Your Gut & Optimize Brain Health”. Mind Body Green. 28 April 2015. Web. 3 August 2016.
[3] Breus, Michael. “Unlocking the Sleep Gut Connection” The Huffington Post. 13 January 2016. Web. 3 August 2016.
