Our gut is known as our second brain due to the similarity that has its own nervous system, allowing it to function independently from the brain. It is comprising the oesophagus, stomach and intestines. Maintaining the optimal conditions in our gut is crucial for our health.

A healthy gut contains an optimum amount of good bacteria and immune cells that discard bad viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Gut health is linked to the immune system, mental health, mood, endocrine disorders, autoimmune disease, hormone disorders, skin conditions, and even cancer. So, keeping your digestive system on track is one way to prevent serious illness down the road.

Here, I’m sharing 5 simple ways you can do to show your love to your gut.

1. Start Your Day with a Cup of Lemon Water

Lemon juice and lemon water promote healthy digestion by relaxing the toxins in the digestive tract. There are minerals found in lemons that can help promote digestion, reduce heartburn, and reduce bloating by loosening up trapped toxins. So, start your day off with a cup or two of warm water with lemon, and then again later you feel the urge to go to the washroom.

2. Eat Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are a rich source of probiotics, which are live microorganisms that provide plenty of health benefits. Fermentation is a process in which the sugar content will be broken down by yeast or bacteria and create something known as lactic acid and make nutrients easy to digest. Fermented goods help improve digestion, strengthened the immune system, and reduce inflammation. Well-known fermented foods are yogurt, kimchi, kefir, tempeh, kombucha, and sauerkraut.

3. Take Prebiotics

Prebiotics are a type of fibre that the human body cannot digest. They serve as food for probiotics, which are tiny living microorganisms, including bacteria and yeast. Prebiotics support helpful bacteria and other organisms in the gut. They support the body in building and maintaining a healthy colony of bacteria and other microorganisms, which support the gut and aid digestion. Prebiotics occur naturally in many foods, so there is no need to take prebiotic supplements. They are in many high-fibre foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

4. Eat Slowly

If you eat slower, you’ll chew your food better, which leads to better digestion. Digestion actually starts in the mouth. So, the more work you do in your mouth, the less you’ll have to do in your stomach. This can help lead to fewer digestive problems such as gas, bloating, constipation, food reactions, headaches, and lowered energy levels. Chewing your food thoroughly and eating your meals more slowly can help promote full digestion and absorption of nutrients and eventually lead to a healthy gut.

5. Level Up Your Polyphenols Intake

Polyphenols are micronutrients that naturally occur in plants. They’re included in many supplements, though they’re also easy to get in your diet from foods like fruits, vegetables, spices, and teas – especially green tea. Consuming polyphenols may improve your digestion by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria while limiting the growth of harmful ones. For example, blueberries may promote the growth of good bacteria, bifidobacteria, meanwhile green tea may slow down the growth of harmful bacteria like Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Salmonella typhimurium.

In Summary

The human gut is more complex than you thought and has a huge impact on whole-body health. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and better digestion, and may help prevent some cancers. Following the above tips and your gut will be happy with the changes you made.