Your gut is your second brain
According to research by Stephan C. Bischoff, "gut health is more than just a positive gut feeling. It is a desirable aim and an important physiological condition required for overall good health". If you are experiencing bad gut health, you are not alone. Kathy and Ashley found that more than 80 million people in the United States alone suffer from digestive disorders.
Symptoms of bad gut health:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Reflux
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Irritable bowel
- Pain
- Diarrhea
Bad gut health can lead to energy imbalance. Energy imbalance often results from an imbalanced metabolic system which can potentially lead to sickness and diseases.
Good & Bad Bacteria in the Gut
The good bacteria in the gut are often called probiotics while the bad bacteria are called pathogenic bacteria. Good bacteria produce substances such as acetic acid, which helps to destroy harmful bacteria. Two examples of good bacteria are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum. Bad bacteria such Candida albicans are responsible for vaginal yeast infections. The most suggested solution to remove bad bacteria from the system is usually antibiotics. Antibiotics should be used as a last resort. Antibiotics can get rid of the good and bad bacteria which cause your immune system to weaken.
How to naturally boost your good bacteria & improve your gut health:
- Find natural sources of probiotics and prebiotics. Some examples include the following:
- Probiotics: kimchi, raw sauerkraut, yogurt, dairy, kefir, coconut water kefir, fermented soy (tempeh, miso, natto)
- Prebiotics: Jerusalem artichoke (sunchokes), chicory root, asparagus, oats, raw honey, barley, flaxseeds (ground), onion
2. Eat small, frequent (about every three hours) meals and chew your food well.
3. Incorporate plant-based digestive enzyme supplements with your meals, especially when you eat animal proteins
4. Shoot for more omega-3s, naturally found in wild cold-water fish or taken s a supplement.
5. Already have esophageal irritation? Add L-glutamine supplement: this amino acid may aid tissue recovery.
6. Try taking magnesium citrate or glycinate before bed to improve the movement of food and waste through your digestive tract.
7. Avoid lying down or going to bed right after eating or drinking. Give yourself a two-to-three-hour window ideally to allow for digestion of food to get it past the stomach.
8. Educate yourself on food language.