Creating a Happy Gut Environment

The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria and plays a crucial role in our health, being responsible for numerous important actions in the body, including: digestion, nutrient absorption, vitamin synthesis, immune system regulation and brain function.

An imbalance between healthy and unhealthy microbes in the gut may be affected by factors such as diet, stress, sleep, exercise, and environment. In particular, a person’s diet plays a large role in the type of bacteria that colonize in the gut and may affect everything from immune health, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, weight gain and mood disorders.

In order to help support a healthy gut, we recommend the following:

1. Eliminate Toxins:

Limit or eliminate these toxins from your diet: alcohol, processed foods, caffeine and refined sugars.

2. Eat Fermented & High Fibre Foods:

Cultured and fermented foods such as raw milk yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, kimchee and kombucha, are probiotic-rich foods which can help increase both the variety and number of bacteria in the gut. High fibre foods are also important for gut health as they are broken down and utilized by the bacteria for their own energy and health.

3. Take a Probiotic:

While probiotics occur naturally in fermented foods, you can also get probiotic in supplement form. Probiotics can flood the gut with good bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis. Ensure you purchase a probiotic that is refrigerated, containing at least 30 different strains and 50 billion live cultures.

4. Supplement Support:

Supplements that may support a healthy gut include therapies such as natural antinflammatories, lipid therapy, nervous system, adrenal and sleep support. These can be found in supplements such as Vitamin D, B Complex, Magnesium, Collagen, Bone Broth, Curcumin, Vitamin E, L-glutamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

5. Skip Antibiotics:

While antibiotics are crucial for our health when required, they can also be overprescribed. When you take antibiotics, they kill both the "bad" and “good” bacteria, throwing off the balance of bacteria in the gut. It can take time for the microbiome to rebuild itself after a course of antibiotics, so only use them if you really need to, and if you do take a probiotic.

6. Reduce stress:

Chronic stress can impact on cortisol levels, which affects the digestive system by restricting blood flow, which can alter the basic function of the gut. Try to reduce stress levels where possible to support gut health.

Remember there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to gut health. Speak with your health practitioner or contact us at The Holland Clinic www.thehollandclinic.com for information on how we can support your gut health.