When most people think of good gut health, they envision a properly functioning digestive system. However, there’s much more to it than that. Actually, 70% of your immune system is located inside of your gut. That means that a well-running digestive system affects your health overall.
If you’re curious to learn more about gut health and how to live a longer, healthier life, keep reading the information below.
The Importance of Good Gut Health
Proper gut health isn’t just about having a digestive system that works well. It’s actually responsible for vital bodily functions, like absorbing nutrients from food to create energy production and eliminate waste.
Inside of the digestive system is the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). It’s known as the second brain or little brain of the body’s system. This enteric nervous system operates the function of the human body’s gastrointestinal system. It also communicates directly to the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.
It does so by sending biochemical messages that provide data about the gastrointestinal tract. The brain’s chemicals, also known as neurotransmitters, are found within the gut as well. Certain good bacteria actually create neurotransmitters. That’s why the mind and gut connection is so strong.
From this information, you can understand why a clean gut health diet is vital to prolonging your life. If your gut health is poor, it affects other areas of the body.
The Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
When you’re gut health is out of whack, your body will let you know. Your gut consists of good bacteria that work to fight against health problems. On the other hand, bad bacteria create heartburn, irregular sleep patterns, upset stomach, diarrhea, fatigue, and a dependency on sugary foods. It can even lead to brain fog.
In fact, the gut directly affects the brain. Think about it, when you are nervous or anxious, you can feel it in your stomach. Other heavy emotions can be felt in the gut as well. With such a strong connection between the two, an unhealthy gut can also work in reverse and cause stress, anxiety, and depression.
How Does Probiotics Help?
Probiotics provide good bacteria to help regulate your digestive system, reduce bad bacteria, and create more good bacteria within the gut. Probiotics are usually found in foods like yogurt, as well as supplements.
However, not all probiotics are the same. There are several factors that contribute to a good probiotic. Many probiotic strains don’t even survive the digestive system before they die.
The major difference between probiotics is there are ones that contain single strain organisms or multi strain organisms. Depending on the condition of your gut, a multi-strain probiotic is the best daily supplement to promote better gut health.
Food Containing Probiotics
Probiotics are commonly used in supplement form, but they are much better when consumed through food— especially since the gut absorbs nutrients from the food you eat. Here are some of the best foods to eat on a gut health diet plan:
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk that’s created by mixing kefir grains, yeast, and the cultures of lactaid acid bacteria with cow’s milk or goat’s milk. Kefir is actually a greater source of probiotics than yogurt. So if you want to improve your digestive system, incorporate kefir into your good health diet.
Miso
Miso is a Japanese seasoning paste that’s made from fermented soybeans. The soybeans are fermented with salt and a fungus known as koji or Aspergillus oryzae. Miso may not be a common paste that’s used in Western culture, but it’s effective.
Sauerkraut
Fermented cabbage creates sauerkraut by mixing it with lactic acid bacteria. Keep in mind that the probiotic form of sauerkraut is unpasteurized. The pasteurized version kills good bacteria, so it’s best to avoid it.
Kombucha
If drinking beverages is an easier way for you to consume probiotics, then try kombucha. It’s a green or black tea that’s fermented with various bacteria and yeast.
Cheese
Mozzarella, gouda, and cheddar all consist of healthy probiotics. But before consuming them, it’s a good idea to read the information label about the active and live cultures they contain. Some cheeses might not include enough probiotics to improve your gut health.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is created from the leftover, non-cultured butter. This portion of the milk contains probiotics. Traditional buttermilk consists of vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, and other healthy nutrients. Therefore, it’s vital to drink traditional buttermilk. The cultured version does not contain probiotics.
Yogurt
Yogurt is made from fermented milk, but not all yogurt consists of live probiotics. In many products, the yogurt-making process kills the probiotics. So as you shop for yogurt, make sure that it contains live or active cultures.
Tempeh
This is fermented soybean meat substitute contains lots of protein. It comes in a patty form and has an earthy taste similar to a mushroom. But although it’s not meat, it still consists of the B12 that’s often found in animal products. This is a delicious and nutritious way to get probiotics into your system.
Better Good Health to Manage Your Crohn’s Disease
It’s essential for individuals with Crohn’s disease to manage their gut health in order to reduce flare-ups. If you are looking for a gut health diet plan to follow, take a look at our website.
Our blog provides content to help Crohn’s patients deal with their condition. We also provide details on the Crohn’s diet to help ease your digestive issues. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
We’re here to help you feel your best.
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