Did you know that you are more bacteria than human? There are roughly 30 trillion human cells in your body and 40 trillion bacterial cells. These cells mainly exist inside your intestines, particularly in a certain part of your large intestine known as the cecum. The bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live here are known as your gut microbiome.
The wellbeing of your gut microbiome or gut flora is essential to your overall physical and mental health. Gut microbes affect your blood glucose levels, hormone responses, the way you store fat and more. They even produce neurotransmitters that regulate brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.
There are good “gut bugs” and there are bad ones. The good ones help your body properly digest nutrients and fight against intruders. This is what supplements like those from Nature’s Happiness are created to do. Naturally, you want more of these. But how do you get them? What you eat and drink is the answer, as this ultimately determines what thrives in your gut.
Let’s take a look at five foods and drinks that help the good gut bugs become stronger and restore your gut health to optimal condition.
Sauerkraut
This German cuisine is simply finely chopped cabbage. Just like kefir, kimchi, kombucha, and miso, it’s a fermented food. These serve as natural sources of probiotics, which are essential to your gut health. Interestingly, the fermentation process can also increase the food’s nutritional value, which is why sauerkraut is a great source of fiber and vitamins.
Probiotics are key to your gut health. They support your immune system, improve digestion and assist with the absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream. Probiotics are also an integral component in the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids and vitamin K, among other important nutrients.
Bananas
In addition to the many other health benefits that make bananas worthy of being called a superfood, they also contain prebiotics. Probiotics feed on prebiotics, causing them to multiply in your gut. Other prebiotic-rich foods include chicory, garlic, asparagus, onions, and Jerusalem artichoke.
Celery Juice
Vegetable-based juices are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the form of supplements. This is because companies can include a number of additional ingredients into a single product to create a highly nutritious drink. For instance, one of the first celery juice powder supplements contain vitamins A, K, and C.
It also has antioxidants, phytonutrients, and a low glycemic index. This combination of nutrients makes it beneficial for your gut health and supporting digestion, while also offering a number of additional health benefits. For instance, the antioxidants help protect your organs, blood cells, and blood vessels from oxidative damage.
Ginger Tea
The many health benefits of ginger date back thousands of years. This includes its ability to soothe muscle in your intestines, which relieves gas and cramping. Ginger also speeds up the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, helping you feel less discomfort after eating. It also aids in digestion by stimulating bile and saliva.
Carrots
While your parents may not have been right about carrots helping you see in the dark, they were onto something. This super vegetable contains fiber, potassium, copper, iron, iodine, chromium, silica and vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. Pretty impressive – and quite beneficial for your gut health.
This is because it supports digestion and metabolism, which aids in reducing stomach ulcers and constipation. Enjoy carrots in a soup, salad ingredient or as a standalone juice. For raw cabbage juice, combining lemon and apple or some cucumber can increase the palatability.
Conclusion
While these foods and drinks are extremely beneficial to your gut health, one shouldn’t discredit the importance of regular exercise, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet overall. These factors are just as important for your health as gut-friendly foods and drinks.
