By Paloma Cortes – Gleaners Nutrition Education Team
Gut health refers to the balance and functioning of the digestive system and it truly impacts our overall health.
A good gut health can help us to digest better our food, to decrease food intolerances, to make us feel more energized and have a good sleep, to maintain a good weight and help us to have glowing skin. The gut microbiome can vary from individual to individual but to keep a good ecosystem of bacteria and microorganisms in the gut there are some key general factors to follow such as:
Diet:
- Try to eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
- Having fermented foods as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi or curtidos will provide beneficial probiotics.
- Highly processed foods with lots of sugar or fats can negatively impact the gut bacteria.
Hydration:
- Drinking a good amount of water during the day will help to keep a good digestion and maintain healthy intestines.
Physical activity:
- It can help to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Stress:
- Lowering stress levels can be beneficial as well.
Sleep:
- Having at least 7 hours of sleep supports overall health and the balance of good bacteria.
Antibiotics:
- These can disrupt the growth of gut bacteria, so these should only be taken when necessary.
Remember that saying, “You are what you eat”, we can improve our gut health by adding these small steps to our daily lifestyle we will improve our overall health.