Did you know that 70% of your immune system is in the gut??
That’s a lot of our health and well-being centered in your gut! So what does that mean? It means we need to take care of our gut!!
This isn’t just about how we feel or if we are getting fed. Gut health dictates everything from health to mood.
We have been learning so much about gut health in the past couple decades and we now know there are several things we can do to support it.
When I started healing my gut, I was lost. I had no idea what I was doing and I was overwhelmed with all the information out there. But I’ve found all the information comes down to a few simple steps I can take every day to care for my gut. Let’s talk about those steps…
- Choose your food wisely.
Food is what fuels our gut. When we fuel the gut, we are fueling the whole body since so much of the immune system is in the gut.
This one can be hard, especially if you are a picky eater like me. I had trouble finding foods that were supportive of my gut but that I like. Like I said, I was overwhelmed with all the information including recipes and foods. I have found certain foods that I love and I tend to stick with those.
However, it is important to get a diversity of foods so that you get a variety of vitamins and minerals. I tried a lot of new foods and expanded the foods I eat so I do have a variety, even if I am eating a lot of the same foods every day!
I’ve found that the way you cook food makes a huge difference in enjoying the food. Try adding different seasoning to foods that you are unsure about or try preparing them different ways!
Crowding out not-so-gut-friendly foods is also I major way we support our gut. Foods that are highly processed, filled with sugar, preservatives, or additives are destroying our gut.
Before healing my gut I was a major ice cream eater… like every day. When I eliminated that one thing I started feeling SO much better. And I started feeling better and better as I eliminated more foods that are “gut bombs.”
The more gut-friendly foods you eat, the more you will want them. So don’t give up after a couple weeks. Transitioning took me several weeks and it’s now a habit. I crave gut-friendly foods!
- Minimize stress.
A lot of people don’t realize how much stress destroys the body, especially the gut. I know I didn’t!
Not only does stress make us crave processed and sugary foods, it also negatively impacts digestion. This can lead to inflammation, weight gain, and so much more.
We live in a very on-the-go society where we don’t take breaks and if we do, it’s considered laziness.
Self-care is NOT being lazy! In order to minimize stress we have to have some self-care, whether that means setting boundaries, saying no, or time for ourselves.
My go to is exercise. Movement is a great way to release stress. And movement is another way to take care of your gut!
- Move your body.
Movement has many benefits for the gut including improved digestion, creating a more stable environment in the gut, and reduced inflammation. In other words, your gut will be happy and you will be happy.
I feel my best when I move my body. We don’t always see immediate results, but movement impacts our bodies in so many positive ways. My go-to’s are weight lifting mixed with some cardio.
Movement can be harmful, though, if overused. Overexercise or overly intense exercise can actually have the opposite effect and negatively effect the gut.
- Be cautious with medication.
When I started my gut healing journey, I was shocked to learn that medications like antibiotics and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, etc.) are gut bombs. They destroy the gut!
These medications destroy the good bacteria (yes, bacteria can be good) in the gut, instead of the bad bacteria.
This isn’t to say that we should never use these medications, but we should use them cautiously. And in order to prevent extensive damage to the gut, we can support the gut while taking the medication. Taking the other steps mentioned, as well as taking a good probiotic can aid in protecting the gut while taking these medications.
- Eliminate toxins.
Personally, this step has been the hardest in my gut healing journey. Toxins are EVERYWHERE. They are in all products: cleaning, skin-care, make-up, and even WATER!
I’m still in the midst of switching my products to more safe and toxin-free products. This can be really overwhelming, but if you just buy a toxin-free product when you run out of your current products, this releases some of the overwhelm.
Something I’ve been learning is just because a product advertises as “cruelty free” or “organic” does not mean it is toxin free. It’s all about learning the ingredients!
An app that has helped me learn what products are toxic is EWG. If you type in a product, it will tell you all the ingredients and their toxin level.
These products are destroying our gut and creating diseases and long term health effects without us even being aware of it. Take your health and your power back one product at a time!
These 5 ways to support your gut may take time, but in the long term your body will thank you. Our gut keeps us running, literally. We need to support it and care for it the best way we can if we want a long, healthy life.
