Your gut hosts trillions of microbes.

These include bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi and protozoa.

Freaky yet fascinating fact: Many scientists believe we are made up of more microbe cells than human cells!

When in balance, these microbes control inflammation, keep your mood in check, help digest food and uptake nutrients, strengthen your immune system and so much more. But, if you are taking in too many toxins, medications, sugar, stress, etc., the “bad” microbes can overgrow and cause a ton of health issues, both physical and emotional.

When your gut bacteria are out of balance, your body isn’t able to digest food as well, which can lead to serious digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and leaky gut syndrome.

And with these comes those fabulous symptoms of bloating, stomach pain, gas…which then leads to “leaky gut”…which then leads to food sensitivities and a host of other health issues.  This is the domino effect in all its glory.

And then we have the emotional component of an out of whack gut. A majority of your neurotransmitters, which are what create your moods and emotional states, are also made in your gut so an out of balance gut means out of balance emotions.

So you can blame your ‘tude on your flourishing candida.

It’s shocking how many of your symptoms may be the result of an imbalanced gut. Here are some things you may experience:

• Food sensitivities or allergies
• Digestive problems like gas and bloating
• Weight gain
• Skin issues like acne, eczema, and rosacea
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Autoimmune disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Joint pain

 

HOW TO NURTURE YOUR GUT

1. EAT PLENTY OF VEGETABLES & WHOLE FOODS

Veggies and whole foods are full of fiber which feed the gut bacteria and keep your digestion regular.

2. KEEP YOUR DIET FULL OF A VARIETY OF FOODS

A healthy gut includes a wide variety of bacteria we get from the foods we eat. The greater the variety of foods you consume the healthier your gut will be.

3. INCLUDE DAILY BITES OF FERMENTED FOODS

They’re naturally rich in healthy bacteria and are a natural source of probiotics. Examples include kefir, yogurt, fermented veggies, kraut, gut shots, kombucha, kimci.

4. TRY PREBIOTIC FOODS

They’re packed with the type of fiber that the healthy bacteria in your gut feeds on. Examples are lentils, asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks, apple, artichoke, jicama, and chicory.

5. EXPERIMENT WITH PREBIOTIC RESISTANT STARCH

These include plantains and green banana flour, cooked and cooled white rice and potatoes, and raw potato starch. These may cause digestive issues if your gut is out of balance so start with a bite and work your way up.

6. AVOID SUGAR

Sugar feeds the “bad” bacteria and candida. This includes fructose in fruit, processed carbs, dairy and alcohol.

7. ADD COCONUT OR MCT OIL

The fatty acids found in these act as antifungals, antibacterials, and antivirals to help keep bad bugs at bay.

8. INCLUDE COLLAGEN AND GELATIN

Collagen and gelatin are great for healing the gut lining which means you’ll be less likely to get “leaky gut”.  Include collagen-rich foods including bone broth or use a collagen protein or gelatin powder to your smoothie, soups and snacks.

9. LIMIT THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

They may kill off the infection, but they also kill the “good” bacteria while they’re at it. When good bacteria is depleted the bad runs rampant.

10. MANAGE STRESS

Stress can seriously impact the health of your gut. Practice at least 10 minutes of stress management daily. Some examples are meditation, deep breathing, walking…anything that brings you a sense of peace and calmness.

 

Want to know exactly what’s going on in your gut? A stool test is a great tool. If you feel like you’ve done all the things and still feel bad you might benefit from taking a stool test and seeing EXACTLY what is going on. Stool testing was a pivotal part of my healing journey and I use it on many of my clients. It takes some of the guess work out for the FASTEST route to getting over those health issues that are holding you back from being the best you can be

Because if you are bloated, tired and depressed it’s really hard to live up to your full potential isn’t it?

Think you might need this? Reach out and we can talk about your health concerns and how a stool test can help you.