It’s ALL in your Gut
The most common thing I hear my clients say they’ve been told:
- Move more, eat less
- Calories in equals calories out
WHAT IF it’s just not that simple? What if there was something more powerful that was controlling your health?
Our metabolism, immune system, mood and overall health is completely dependent on so much more than calories and movement and current research shows it all starts in your gut. Over the last few years and even in the last months multiple studies are coming out weekly on the role of the gut in your metabolism, immune system, energy levels and even sleep. It turns out the bugs in our gut are vital to everything related to your health and well-being.
So how do you take care of your gut in the best possible way? It’s more complicated than just a blog but here’s a few ways to get started:
- Consider adding both pre and probiotics to your diet. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that feed probiotic bacteria including radishes, asparagus, jicama, leeks, onions and garlic. Foods high in natural probiotics are fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, cultured vegetables, yogurt, and kefir. You can also take a probiotic pill that contains at least 50 billion bacteria as the lower dosage ones are not all that effective.
- Consume vegetables on a daily basis, especially cruciferous vegetables which add fiber, good bacteria, and substances that help your body with hormone balance and detoxification. Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, Bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, and kale.
- Avoid fake sweeteners. Although many see them as “free” they can be more detrimental to both your gut microbiome and metabolism than sugar. Studies show they increase insulin resistance and change gut hormones to lower metabolism and increase sugar cravings. They can also feed bad bacteria leading to bacterial overgrowth.
- Spend more time outdoors – it turns out that being outdoors, gardening, and even going for a picnic is healthy for your gut bugs and can help your immune system and decrease allergies.
Rather than muscling through a health or weight challenge with a strict diet or rigorous excessive program, consider changing your gut health as this may be one of the missing keys to your overall health and metabolic needs. Sometimes it’s the unexpected piece of the puzzle that makes your health picture come together. And in this environment of COVID one of the ways to keep your immune system healthy is to get outside in the sunshine, plant something in your yard, play in the dirt and maybe even plant some veggies as a bonus!
