Most people never think twice about having a healthy gut. Yet, having poor gut health can literally disturb every part of your body. For instance, there’s a reference commonly known as leaky gut syndrome which outlines a condition where the intestinal walls of an individual can become inflamed and literally leak toxins and other bacteria in the blood stream.
Let’s face it, if this happens to you, areas of your body or maybe even your entire body will eventually feel sick and you’ll probably experience a lot of discomfort. Here’s the problem, many health care professionals do not diagnose or misdiagnose leaky gut syndrome because it’s not recognized as a regular or common disease.
And yet, millions of people have this problem. The symptoms vary from person to person. Generally, someone suffering from poor gut health may see symptoms such as:
- Digestive problems such as gas, bloating, constipation, etc.
- Acne or eczema
- Brain fog, depression or anxiety
- Stress
- Inflammation
- Headaches, joint pain and fatigue
- Nutrient deficiencies
These are just a few of the common symptoms. It’s because these symptoms are so common that doctors find it difficult to identify the cause.
In this case, you’ll need to solve the problem holistically.
Curing your gut
Common sense will apply here. If you want to heal your gut, the most important factor are the foods you eat. Processed foods, refined oils, junk food, and alcohol inflame the gut and upset the balance of gut flora in your intestines.
There are a few foods you can consume to encourage the growth of your gut flora. These foods are:
- Probiotic foods (cheese, buttermilk, kimchi, yogurt, pickles kombucha, bone broth, etc.)
- Prebiotic foods (leeks, onion, garlic, apples, asparagus, bananas, oatmeal, chicory root, etc.)
- Nuts and seeds
- Fruit rich in fiber (avocados, passionfruit, pears, apples, kiwifruit, blackberries, etc.)
- Non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, bean sprouts, artichoke, cucumber, okra, eggplant, etc.)
Make these foods a part of your daily diet while reducing and eliminating the detrimental foods. It may take you a while as you gradually ease into clean eating, but the effort will be worth your while.
Sometimes, taking a probiotic supplement may help if you find it difficult to get enough probiotic foods in your diet.
Other reasons, issues, and factors
Besides just watching your diet, you should also ensure that you’re getting sufficient good quality sleep daily. A lack of sleep lowers your immunity and will exacerbate the gut issue. Your body heals when you rest.
Stress is another silent culprit. Are you feeling constantly stressed out?
There’s an adage that states It’s not what you eat, but what’s eating you that matters most.
When it comes to gut health, BOTH matters. So, take time to relax and de-stress. Avoid sweating the small stuff. Practice gratitude journaling or meditation to calm your mind and soul.
Do what works for you. The goal is to avoid being stressed out, because it will have a negative impact on your gut health.
A healthy gut can be achieved just by following the tips in this article. While the advice given is simple, trying to switch to a clean diet and a proper sleep schedule may be a struggle.
These new habits will be tough to cultivate at first. So, aim for measurable progress in reasonable time.
Making small positive changes to your diet and lifestyle will prevent sudden food cravings and mental resistance.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll look and feel much better. Your gut is waiting to heal. It just needs some help from you. Do give it a hand today.
