Diversity Is Always Key

One of the best things that you can do for the long term health of your gut, even though it may be a tad uncomfortable at first, is to ensure that there is diversity in your diet.

That means a diversity of everything. Fruit, veg, nuts seeds, whole grains, meat, fish, dairy. All of these, as long as they are in their whole food form, are wonderful foods. Each contain their own unique spectrums of nutrients and protective substances. The broader our intake of food, the broader our intake of nutrients.

This approach to eating leads to another type of diversity, the most important one for long term gut health. That is of course a diversity within our microbiome - that bacterial colony that lives in our gut. That colony that regulates almost every aspect of digestive function and that interacts on varying levels with virtually every body system.

The more diverse our diet is, the more diverse our microbiome is. The more diverse the microbiome is, then the healthier we become on both the level of gut health, but every single system gets an upgrade too.

The Power Of Polyphenols.

Ok I know I talk about polyphenols a lot, but with good reason. They have benefits for almost every body system. The digestive system is really no exception there.

These powerful compounds not only contribute to the vibrant colours of your fruits and vegetables but also play a unique role in nurturing a balanced gut environment.

They help to ward off potentially problematic bacterial strains and pathogens, leaving room for the beneficial microbes in the microbiome chance to flourish.

Get plenty of colour diversity in your diet and watch the magic unfold on every level, but especially within your overall gut health.

Keep On Moving.

Exercise benefits our digestive system way more than we would ever expect it to.

Of course it is pretty obvious that physically moving helps everything to….well…..physically move.  It can help to stimulate peristalsis, that rhythmical movement of the gut wall that ensure gut contents get where they need to go.

But, did you know that regular exercise also influences the microbiome too. A study published in 2019 found that regular physical activity improved the composition of the microbiome (as in more of the good, less of the bad bugs), and improved its overall functionality as a system too. What was amazing was that this happened REGARDLESS of diet!

As if you needed any other excuse to get out there and get moving. But if your gut health is in need of a tune up, then lace up those trainers and hit the curb.

Mindful Eating – The Gut-Brain Connection

Your gut and brain are in constant communication, shaping not just your mood but also your digestive health and functioning.

There really is an intricate web of connections between your thoughts, emotions, and what happens in your gut. We can become acutely aware of this when we are stressed. But it goes far beyond that.

Eating when we are feeling emotional, stressed, sad, or even irritable can have a huge effect upon how well our gut handles the food we are eating, how well we digest it, even how well we will absorb it.

But, there are things that we can do that will help to counter this. Whether that is through mindfulness and mindset or whether it is via nutritional means. This delicate but distinct interaction can be managed.

Feast Fermented

Fermented food is certainly all the rage at the moment. There is definitely a bit of an industry led trend. But behind that. Behind the social media band wagon, is very sound reasoning with centuries of data, both clinical and anecdotal behind it.

It isn't just a culinary trend; it's a microbial masterpiece! Traditionally prepared fermented foods have three major benefits. Firstly, in many cases the fermentation process actually creates new and unique substances in the food that deliver health benefits, or makes substances more absorbable. The phytoestrogens in soya are a perfect example.

Secondly it produces interesting acids during the fermentation process that can have a fantastic effect upon the microbiome in terms of improving their environment so they grow and flourish more effectively.

Finally, fermented foods do of course house their own bacterial colony. These can become part of our own and increase that ever important microbial diversity that creates a healthy, highly functional microbiome.