Did you know that your gut health affects your mood, immune system, skin condition, as well as mental health? For those reasons, taking care of your gut health is crucial for your overall physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re looking for ways on how to improve gut health, then you’ve landed on the right spot. We’re here to help you with just that!
What is Gut Health?
For those that are unfamiliar, let’s first take a brief look at what gut health actually means. Gut health is all about your digestive system. On average, a person has around 300-500 active bacteria species containing nearly 2 million genes in their digestive tract. Some of these microorganisms (known as the gut microbiome) are incredibly beneficial to the human body, while the other half isn’t. Now, gut health simply refers to maintaining a balance between these microorganisms to ensure their proper functioning.
In his Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dr E.M. Quigley stated that good gut bacteria could strengthen your immune system, help deal with obesity, improve depression symptoms, and give several other benefits.
5 Effective Ways To Improve Gut Health
Adequate Sleep:
In almost every health-related post, you may come across this life hack – getting enough sleep! Getting adequate sleep is necessary for your overall wellbeing and not just for your gut health. And we can’t stress enough on its importance!
Habits such as irregular sleeping pattern, sleeping extremely late or simply not getting enough quality sleep all have an adverse effect on your gut health. On average, adults should get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Add Supplements to Your Diet:
According to Healthline.com Probiotic and Prebiotic definition is as follows:
Probiotic: Beneficial bacteria found in certain foods or supplements
Prebiotic: Substances that come from carbs (mostly fibre) that feed the good bacteria in your gut
Consuming probiotic and prebiotic supplements is another great way of improving your gut health. Probiotic supplements can boost not only your gut health but also prevent some intestinal issues and gut inflammation. You can find probiotic supplements in drug stores, food stores, and even online.
On the other hand, prebiotics is the food needed by the gut microbiome to thrive. Having said that, there are tons of prebiotic and probiotic supplements out there. Thus, it is best to consult a health expert to ensure that you choose only high-quality supplements required for a healthy gut.
Reduce Sugar Intake:
Overconsumption of sugar or any other kinds of artificial sweeteners can lead to an imbalance of gut bacteria, a condition known as gut dysbiosis. Not only that, but it may even influence your behaviour and brain.
Hence, even if you can’t completely say no to sugar, make sure to reduce the amount. Additionally, a reduction in the consumption of high-fat and processed food also goes a long way in improving gut health.
Manage Stress:
Stress is one of the biggest enemies of your gut health. Proper management of stress levels is vital for different aspects of your health. That includes your gut health as well.
You can practice some techniques that can help lower stress levels, such as taking walks, yoga, laughing, meditation, forest bathing, spending time with your loved ones, or even by simply owning a pet.
Regular Exercise:
Regular exercise is another essential health tip that you may find everywhere. But is it really effective? Yes, it absolutely is! Exercising regularly can support weight loss, good heart health, relieve stress, and also improve gut health. You do not even have to indulge in high-intensity workouts. Simple exercises like taking an evening stroll, yoga, or skipping can prove beneficial as well.
