By now we’ve all heard about how important the gut microbiome is for ensuring that our bodies function as they’re meant to.
This microscopic system’s responsible for almost every aspect of our well-being and even has an impact on our mental health. So, it’s worth taking a look at how we’re caring for this vital part of our physiology.
Here’s how to improve gut microbiome functioning and give your body the boost it needs.
1. Avoid Dangerous Foods
Everything we eat ends up in our gut eventually in some form or other. So, it’s important to remain conscious of our diet. Excess sugar, caffeine, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners wreak havoc in the gut microbiome.
Limit your intake of these harmful things and instead opt for a healthy, gut-friendly diet.
2. Embrace a Gut Microbiome Diet Plan
Good gut health begins with foods that support the tiny organisms that live in our microbiome. Try to include as many of the following in your diet as you can:
- Almonds
- Onions
- Green tea
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cocoa
The good news is that red wine and dark chocolate also make this list of polyphenol-rich gut boosting foods.
Fiber is an excellent source of nutrition for gut bacteria, so be sure to include plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet too. Some of the best ones are:
- Raspberries
- Green peas
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
Of course, whole grain foods are excellent for maintaining a healthy gut too.
3. How to Improve Gut Microbiome Health Naturally
Other helpful foods for gut health are those that contain healthful lactobacilli bacteria. Yogurt’s an obvious choice, but there are also some other things you can fill up on to optimize your gut microbiome.
Try some of these:
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kombucha
- Kimchi
- Tempeh
Spices like turmeric, garlic, and ginger support the microbiome by helping to rid your gut of harmful bacteria.
4. Keep Your Gut Clean
One of the best ways to improve gut health is by giving it a thorough cleaning every so often. There are various natural tonics available to help you do that.
You’ll also find some designed to address specific health issues in this collection of restorative formulas.
5. Avoid Antibiotics
Sometimes it’s unavoidable to combat illness without a little chemical intervention. Antibiotics work well to kill harmful bacteria in our systems but they don’t stop there.
Prolonged use of these medications can seriously deplete beneficial bacteria too and destroy the gut microbiome. Avoid disaster by taking probiotics in conjunction with antibiotics.
6. Embrace Healthy Habits
The gut microbiome and brain are in constant communication with each other via the central nervous system. Due to this, almost everything we do affects our gut bacteria in some way.
It’s important to get enough sleep, avoid stress, and try to exercise for a few minutes every day to ensure optimum gut functioning.
Stay Informed About Your Health
Prevention’s always better than cure and mastering how to improve gut microbiome function is only the start. For optimum health, it’s best to investigate every area to see how you can improve your lifestyle and supercharge your well-being.
If you like to stay up-to-date with the latest health tips and trends, keep reading our blog. We specialize in bringing our readers the very best advice we can find.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
