What are gut-friendly foods? Is your gut health the root of all your health problems? Understanding the key to a happy gut. Fermented foods and their impact on gut health.
Would you believe me if I told you that your health revolves around your gut? Yes, your gut. The gut is often referred to as the second brain. If food is truly thy medicine, then it would make sense that our digestive systems, specifically our guts, are a big part of our health and wellness. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Here are some of the most important roles of the gut:
Handling digestion/absorption of food
Strengthening the immune system
Function of every organ and cell in our body
Responsible for creating neurotransmitters (our brains chemicals) - hence "brain to gut connection"
So what is gut health?
Your gut is made up of a microbiome which essentially is a combination of bacteria, fungi, microbes, and viruses.
To understand gut health it is important to understand just how much it impacts your overall wellbeing. For instance, if we are consuming foods that are toxic, it not only hurts your digestive system but your main organs and your cells. The phrase "you are what you eat" really isn't as figurative as it is literal. What you eat makes up your cells, which make up you. If we eat foods that don't nourish our guts, it can change the way our brain functions, which in turn affects our mental and emotional health. Being that your gut health is such a vital component of your wellbeing, it can affect so many different aspects of it.
Some signs that your gut may be suffering:
Brain fog
Upset digestive system
Frequent bloating
Acne/other skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, etc.)
Autoimmune symptoms
Food intolerances
Problems sleeping
Anxiety/ Depression
Sufficient weight gain/loss
All of these are possible signs that you have an unhappy gut and possibly other issues that are inhibiting your health. This is why it is so important to listen to your body because symptoms that we typically write off as normal are usually our bodies trying to tell us that something isn't working properly.
So what are some gut friendly foods?
There are a lot of gut friendly foods that are actually quite easy to integrate into your every day life.
Let's get discuss a few of them:
Sauerkraut- Pickled cabbage
Kimchi- A korean side dish of fermented vegetables
Pickles- Fermented cucumbers
Pickled red onion- which are great on tacos, nourish bowls, burgers, etc.
Pickled jalapeños- put them on sandwiches or burgers-these are a favorite of mine!
Raw dairy- raw yogurt and milk
Green bananas- bananas that are just barely ripe are a green prebiotic that is amazing for the gut
Kefir- A fermented milk drink with benefits that may heal a leaky gut and improve lactose intolerance (goat kefir and other non-dairy kefir are an option)
Kombucha- Kombucha is amazing for your gut because it contains millions of live probiotic bacteria. But most store-bought brands contain loads of sugar and can do more harm than good. So make sure you are picking a good quality kombucha or making your own!
These are all fermented foods that are great at feeding your gut healthy bacteria that it needs in order to function properly. It is just as important to include foods with lots of fiber meaning loads of vegetables and some fruit. Always avoid processed foods, as they wreck havoc on your gut! Integrated one or more of these food into your every day life can be life changing. After all a happy gut means a happy life!
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