08-18-20

Nourish Your Gut with Friendly Foods

With trends and fad diets constantly phasing in and out it can become difficult to know what foods to eat, what types of exercise to do, how much sleep to get, and so on. No matter what is trending, one thing holds true, daily behaviors shape your wellbeing. And, when those daily behaviors favor a healthy gut you are on the right track. 

So, what exactly should you be eating to support your ever-important gut? Here are four food categories to consider. 

Friendly Probiotics

Probiotics are living beneficial bacteria that promote a balanced gut microbiome. They are commonly available as supplements and can be found in fermented foods including yogurt, kimchi, raw sauerkraut, kombucha, and more. 

Today, we are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to maintaining a balanced gut microbiome. Many negative factors including processed foods, constant stress, antibiotics, and more actually eliminate your good bacteria making it important to continually replenish it. 

Tryptophan-Rich Foods

There are nine amino acids that are crucial to supporting the gut barrier and fighting off harmful pathogens. One of the nine essential amino acids is called tryptophan. These friendly fighters are called metabolites, which are key modulators of the gut microbiome. 

Adding tryptophan-rich foods into your diet and avoiding processed foods support metabolism and create serotonin (the happy hormone). You can increase your tryptophan intake with foods like eggs, chicken, cheese, fish, milk, peanuts, pumpkin, and sesame seeds. 

Polyphenol-Rich Foods

What are polyphenols? They are compounds that occur naturally in plants. Many of us consume polyphenol-rich foods like fruits, veggies, coffee, wine, and tea daily. It’s no doubt they are healthy for us, but what do they have to do with your gut bacteria? 

Most of them make their way to the small intestine where they actually decrease bad bacteria and promote the growth of good bacteria. 

High Fiber Foods

When dietary fiber enters the digestive system, it acts as a prebiotic that actually nourishes the microbes and bacteria that support you.

Dietary fiber can be found in many whole foods from vegetables to grains. Add some boiled beans and lentils to your salad, or some chia seeds to your smoothie for a healthy intake of dietary fiber each day.

Supporting your gut microbiome is just like any other part of wellness, it is based on daily habits. What you eat each day has a direct impact on your wellness, especially your gut health.