Your Guide to Gut Health
Your gut health plays a major role in your overall wellness. Get the tools you need to make the most of your gut health.
The Truth About Good Bacteria
Your gut is also referred to as your microbiome
and that’s because it’s home to millions of good bacteria (also known as probiotics). When well-balanced and optimized, these good bacteria have beneficial functions that reach far beyond your gut.
A Brief Rundown of Your Gut
Your gut is one of the most underrated parts of your body. It’s where millions of good bacteria thrive. This microbiome does so much more than aid in digestion; it bolsters your immune system, metabolizes vitamins and drugs, and even communicates with your brain to keep your neurological system going. Your gut is where crucial processes happen that can have a massive impact on your overall health, and your gut bacteria are the center of the action. Keeping them healthy is critical.
Your Microbiome and Its Impact
The good bacteria in your gut have incredible responsibility for your overall health. Here are some of the functions of your microbiome:
- Prevents against infections
- Keeps your immune system in balance
- Produces B-Vitamins and Vitamin K
- Turns dietary fiber into short chain fatty acids such as butyrate which fuel the cells in your digestive tract
- Protects the gut lining from damage
- Communicates with your brain to help regulate your emotions and mood
Your Microbiome and You
Your diet has a major impact on your microbiome. To keep your gut bacteria as well-balanced and thriving as possible, make sure you:
- Eat a well-balanced diet comprised of whole, nutrient-rich foods
Eat a diverse array of plants to get the prebiotic fiber that feed your gut microbiome - Ingest foods that are naturally high in probiotics, like yogurt, pickled vegetables, and kombucha
- Avoid processed foods and artificial sweeteners
- Eat organic whenever possible because pesticides also destroy your gut bacteria
- Talk to your doctor about whether you should take probiotics or probiotics to support your microbiome
Probiotics Explained
“Probiotics” are just good bacteria, like the kind living in your gut, that help to promote immune, digestive, and neurological health. Probiotics are a naturally occurring part of your body; keeping them well-balanced and thriving is crucial for your overall health. This is why, if you are prescribed antibiotics or another medication that may affect your body’s natural probiotic levels, your doctor may suggest that you eat foods that are high in probiotics or take a probiotic supplement.
Make the Most of Your Gut Health
Your gut health is as unique as your one-of-a-kind health journey. We believe in testing (not guessing) to determine the best course of action to optimize the health of your gut.