Gut Health - What, Why & How

Good morning and happy Monday ladies and gentlemen!

Today I want to talk about the ever so important and underrated gastrointestinal distress and well-being or in layman's terms "gut/tummy health". We are going to briefly dive into the pivotal role a healthy gut microbiome plays in our overall health and wellness.

I am not going to get TOO into the weeds with the scientific jargon today (of course if you are curious PLEASE reach out to me separately, I would be more than happy to get "nerdy" with you). However, I do believe it is very important to know A) WHY we need a healthy gut to live prosperously and B) WHAT things we can do/eat to make sure we have one.

The WHY - Beneficial gut bacteria help manufacture vitamins (B12, K, B6, B5, B3, folate and biotin), enhance absorption of minerals, fight off pathogens, digest food, and even influence total body metabolism!

The WHAT - The most successful way to have a healthy, happy gut is by eating whole foods, unprocessed, WHOLE foods daily, that, combined with a good variety of fruits and vegetables, first and foremost! From there, the key is listening to your body after you eat a meal, do you feel gas or bloating after you eat certain foods??? Pay attention. Just because a certain food is deemed "healthy" or "whole" in nature, does NOT mean YOUR tummy likes it. It is all about being one with your body. You all hear me talk about the "mind - muscle connection" in the gym and how important it is in helping find the optimal muscle contraction we are looking for. Well, the same goes for the "mind - body connection" between you and your insides. <3

A couple things to incorporate into your diet to ensure things are moving through the intestinal tract smoothly. Include your pre/probiotics that I have discussed with each of you. Include these into your diet via FOODS or if you must, supplements. See below for a handy list of some of my favorite "happy gut" foods/liquids to add into your diet daily.

1. Fermented foods/liquids - (you guys know I love these) kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt w/ live cultures (which can be made from cow, soy, coconut, or almond milk), kefir, miso, natto (made by boiling and fermenting soybeans with bacteria), beet kvass (a fermented beet drink), apple cider vinegar, and kombucha.

2. FIBER - The simplest way to think of it is this: If you want to nurture good bacteria, eating adequate amounts of fiber is essential. Whole plant foods — especially fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains — have the most.

3. "Super-foods" - Some top superfoods that provide loads of "microbe" fueling nutrients include; chicory root, artichoke, dandelion greens, garlic, leek, onion, asparagus, bananas, jicama, apples, oats, flaxseed, cocoa, burdock root, yacon root, and seaweed/kelp.

As always, reach out to me with absolutely any questions/concerns you might have here! I am always happy and eager to get nerdy!

Let's smash the week everyone! Saludos!

Brooke