Starting with these gut-friendly basics can help you stock your pantry, but your microbiome can be greatly influenced by many other lifestyle choices. These are some easy strategies to help your digestive system as well:
Eat fermented foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi since they are high in probiotics that help the gut to be populated with healthy bacteria. Sauceda advises examining the label and ensuring it states it is a source of live and active cultures; these should also be mentioned on the ingredients list.
Drinking lots of water helps to break down food and keep it flowing naturally, so supporting digestion.
consume colorful fruits and veggies: “One of the most simple and effective ways to improve our gut health is to eat a variety of different colored fruits and vegetables each day,” Louise Valentine, M.P.H., CHES, ACSM-EP, CSCS, LMT, creator of Breaking Through Wellness, said. Key for our health are vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients found in these foods. Valentine advises generally trying for at least five different colorful vegetables every day.
Get enough sleep; studies reveal that irregular sleep habits might throw off gut flora. To keep a good stomach, try for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night.
“Eating too quickly can perhaps increase the likelihood that undigested food particles will increase the burden on our gut and digestive system,” explains Volpe. She counsels careful chewing since it breaks down meals into smaller bits, which facilitates effective nutritional absorption by your body.
