Did you know that you have more bacteria in your body than cells? No need to freak out though!
That bacteria plays an essential role. It helps with digestion, manages your mood, it even affects your quality of sleep.
If you improve your gut health, you may end up healthier overall.
The most recent science indicates good gut health could remedy everything from obesity to colon cancer.
Read on, and we’ll share five ways you can start to improve your gut health today.
Improve Gut Health: Manage Your Stress
According to The American Psychological Association, stress wreaks havoc through the whole body.
For example, in the digestive system, stress can:
- affect how long it takes for food to pass through
- induce muscle spasms
- cause constipation
- cause diarrhea
- disrupt eating patterns
There are many ways to deal with stress. Try yoga, breathing exercises, tai chi, or mindful walking. The key is to find something that works for you, something you will return to when you feel stress coming on.
Improve Gut Health: Get Good Sleep
A recent study found that poor sleep exerted a strong negative effect on gut health. However, it also found those who slept well had a healthier gut biome.
The moral of the story? Practice some sleep hygiene to help get your gut back on track.
Set a timer for about an hour before you want to go to bed. Use that time to:
- unplug from electronic devices
- practice mindful stretching
- practice mindful breathing
- meditate
- drink herbal tea
The goal is to prepare your body and mind for sleep, much like you train your body to get started in the morning. Then, once you establish a routine, your body will begin to unwind once that nighttime alarm goes off.
Improve Gut Health: Be Mindful
Speaking on mindfulness, how about some mindful eating? This practice is simple and powerful. When practiced regularly, mindful eating can:
- promote weight loss
- reduce binge eating
- help you feel better
- improve digestive health
Mindfulness is the anecdote to the fast-paced world in which we live. When you eat with mindfulness, you are:
- eating slowly
- listening to your body cues
- engaging all your senses
- appreciating your food
If this seems simplistic, that’s because it is. Try approaching your next meal with more mindfulness and see how you feel
Improve Gut Health: Eat a Balanced Diet
The Standard American Diet is, well, SAD. As a result, the U.S. consistently ranks highest for obesity and diabetes rates globally. Making a few fundamental changes in your diet can go a long way toward improving gut health.
In general, try to eat fiber-rich, plant-based foods as much as possible. In addition, try to incorporate fermented foods like miso, tempeh, or sauerkraut. While also avoiding excessive sugar, fried foods, alcohol, and caffeine.
There is no one-size-fits-all-right-diet. As such, working with a licensed health coach can be invaluable to your digestive health.
https://www.neumannwellness.com/about-sarah/– Sarah Neumann prides herself in solving the unsolvable. If your digestive health is a mystery, consider consulting a professional like Sarah.
Moreover Gut Health: Hydrate
The human body is about 60% water, yet most of us are chronically dehydrated.
Why does this matter? Water is a requirement for proper digestion. Over time, failure to drink water results in a wide range of health problems:
- fatigue
- poor digestive health
- joint pain
- weight gain
- headaches
- ulcers
- high blood pressure
- kidney disease
Most adults ought to drink half of their body weight (pounds) in fl oz of water daily. Set yourself up for success with a drinking strategy!
- drink a glass of water upon waking and before meals
- infuse your water with fruits
- keep a reusable water bottle with you at all times
- leave yourself reminders around the house to motivate you
“Benter” supposed to be “Better”?
Every year 62 million Americans are diagnosed with a digestive disorder. So if you want to live your best life, you’ve got to improve your gut health.
Pick one or two suggestions from our list to help you get started.
If you’re still hungry for more vital health information, check out the rest of our blog. We’ve got a ton of helpful content to help you live your best life.
