Gut health is an important part of your overall health but it tends to get overlooked. Good gut health forms the basis of your overall wellbeing. Maintaining a balance of good bacteria in your gut will promote digestion, improve your overall health, and boost immunity as well.
A lot of people rely on expensive probiotic supplements to improve or maintain their gut health. But none of the supplements or GNC products will work if you don’t take care of your diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle. With certain lifestyle modifications and dietary changes you can take your gut health a notch higher.
Tips to improve gut health
Follow these tips to maintain better digestion and improve your gut health.
- Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Fruits and vegetables are high in gut healthy microbes. They are also a good source of fiber which helps with overall digestion. There are certain bacteria in the gut that thrive on fiber. Various studies have also shown that a diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables prevents the growth of disease causing bacteria in the gut. Apart from fruits and vegetables you should also try and include whole grain foods, legumes, and beans in your diet as they are a rich source of fiber and help with digestive health.
Some high fiber foods that you must include in your diet to maintain your gut health are – nuts, seeds, bananas, lentils, chickpeas, broccoli, green beans, and apples.
- Include fermented foods in your diet
Fermented foods are really beneficial for your gut health and promote digestion. These foods have more good bacteria to improve in your belly. Many of the fermented foods are rich in lactobacilli, a type of bacteria that can benefit your health. Include more yogurt and kimchi in your every day routine.
- Eat foods enriched with polyphenols
Polyphenols are plant based molecules that are rich in fiber. They travel to your intestine where gut microbes use them as fuel. Foods rich in polyphenol are rich in antioxidants, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, are known for their anti inflammatory properties, and decrease cellular stress. Foods rich in polyphenol are – dark chocolate, green tea, blueberries, almonds, onions, and broccoli.
- Eat less sugars and artificial sweeteners
Consuming a diet that’s high in sugar or artificial sweeteners may cause a condition called gut dysbiosis – where there is an imbalance of gut bacteria. Various studies have shown that a high sugar diet has harmful effects on microbes present in your gut. Research also shows that use of artificial sweeteners can negatively impact blood glucose levels due to their effects on gut flora, which means artificial sweeteners may increase blood sugar levels.
- Reduce stress
Whether it is gut health, mental health, or your overall health, stress can make things worse. It is best to reduce stress from life. Identify stressors and try to eliminate them from your life. Psychological stressors can disrupt the microbes present in the intestines. In addition to this, other stressors like lack of proper sleep and environmental stress in the form of excessive heat, cold, or noise can also affect your gut health in a negative manner.
- Avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily
Sometimes it is imperative to take antibiotics if you have an illness or an infection. But make sure you always consult your doctor and then take any antibiotics. There can be certain antibiotics that might have a negative impact on your gut health. When you take them over an extended period of time, these pills do more harm than good.
- Exercise regularly
Having an optimal workout routine will not just help with your physical well being, but it will also maintain your mental health. When you work out regularly, it helps in controlling obesity and weight management. In the long run exercise regularly will help your gut health as well.
Signs of an unhealthy gut
Eating a lot of processed food, high sugar foods, and taking antibiotics for a long period of time can harm the health of gut bacteria. This is turn will have negative impact of various other aspects of your health. Look out for these signs and symptoms that might indicate that you have digestive problems.
- Upset stomach
- Nausea and vomiting after eating food
- Acidity and heartburn
- Sleep disturbance and constant fatigue
- Gas, bloating, and constipation
- Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
- Food allergies
GNC products for gut health and better digestion
There are various GNC products and supplements for digestive health. Visit the official website to buy these GNC products for better digestive health & witness the change for yourself..
You can buy the complete range of GNC products including gut health supplements on GNC India’s official website – www.guardian.in
There are so many kinds of GNC products available for digestive support and detox that you might get confused which one to choose for yourself. It is best that you consult your doctor to know which probiotic supplement or digestive support tablet will work best for you. If you are pregnant, a nursing mother, or take medication for a chronic illness, then do not randomly start taking any GNC product or supplement. Consult your doctor and only then consume the supplements in the right dosage.
