5 Ways To Help Improve Your Gut Health

Did you know that there are 10 times more bacteria in your gut than there are cells in your entire body!

All of those different microbes in your gut influence your overall health. In fact, your gut is so important that scientists often call it the “second brain” as it is involved in many different functions in your body (source).

Needless to say, gut health is important.

So how can you help to naturally improve your gut health? Check out our list below and learn 5 ways that you can help to improve your gut health.

How Can You Improve Your Gut Health?

Below are 5 lifestyle tips you can put into practice to increase your overall gut health.

1. Eat More Fiber

We all know that we need to eat more fiber, but do you know why? Fiber is the most important sources of energy for the probiotics present in your colon. The fermentation of carbs and fiber in your digestive system helps tolower the pH of your gut, which helps to limit the production of bad bacteria. So start getting more fiber!

Some of the best fiber rich foods include:

•Fruits (such as raspberries, bananas, and oranges)

•Vegetables (peas, brussel sprouts, and broccoli)

•Grains (brown rice, oats)

•You can also use a daily fiber supplement, ourFiber Food is a daily drink mix made up of organic fruits and vegetables. One scoop provides over ⅓ of your daily fiber requirement. You can learn more about ithere.

2. Eat More Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are naturally rich in probiotics. Adding more fermented foods into your diet will naturally help to improve your gut health.

Below is a list of some of the most probiotic-rich fermented foods available. You should be able to find these foods at your local grocery store.

•Yogurt

•Kefir

•Sauerkraut

•Kimchi

•Kombucha (you can read our article on thebest kombucha brands)

3. Get A Full Night of Sleep At Night

Getting 7-9 hours of sleep at night is one of the best investments you can make in your health. Prioritize your sleep. Make sure you get enough sleep at night so that you wake up refreshed.

If you have trouble sleeping, we have a few resources you can use, including our newSleep Diary PDF. You can use this free print-at-home tool to track your sleep at night. It will help you to notice patterns and habits in your life that may be interfering with your sleep.

You candownload it here - once you get it you can simply print it at home. We recommend that you fill it out each morning, it takes just a few minutes.

4. Try To Reduce Stress Levels

As we discussed earlier, the brain and gut arehighly interconnected. In fact, the gut is often called our “second brain”. If you’re stressed out, you’ll start to see this negatively impact your digestion.

It sounds cliche, but do your best to reduce your stress load. One of the best ways to do this is by maintaining a gratitude journal. The process is simple, every day simply write down a list of 5 things that you are grateful for.

This is a great daily habit to practice around the dinner table at night. It gets you thinking about the positive things from the day (versus focusing on the negative).

5. Cook (and Eat) Your Food At Home

Studies show that food eaten away from home tends to contain LESS fiber and MORE calories (source). That combination is bad news for your health.

It is recommended that you do your best to prepare your own food - I highly recommend learning how to do meal prep ahead of time, especially if you have a busy schedule. This allows you to have ready-made, nutritious meals while you are on the go.

In addition to cooking your own food, I’d like to make a note that eating meals at home with family is valuable. It allows you to spend distraction free time with the people you love. After all,living in community with others is one of the best things you can do for your health!

Thanks for reading our top 5 ways to improve gut health. Add some of these tips into your daily routine and start feeling healthier!

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