8 EASY TIPS TO KEEP YOUR GUT HEALTHY

8 Ways To Improve Your Gut Health

While all of us have heard about the term GUT, most of us are still unfamiliar with it. So what is the “Gut" in the human body? Or where exactly is this Gut? 

The human “Gut" is not an organ but rather an organ system. Chances are you are familiar with at least one if not all of these – the gastrointestinal tract or gastrointestinal system or digestive system or digestive tract.

All these refer to the same set of organs in-charge of our metabolism - mouth, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Together these organs are also referred to as the “Gut".  

What Constitutes A healthy gut?

Our gut is home to roughly 100 trillion bacteria – both good and bad. So, a Healthy Gut is one that has all of the good guys in the desired quantity to keep the bad guys in check. 

Is Your gut healthy? 

If you're experiencing constipation, gas, diarrhoea, bloating, out-of-the-blue weight gain or loss, frequent tiredness, insomnia, skin conditions like eczema or frequently falling ill there are chances, something is wrong with your Gut. 

All these symptoms are a warning sign cautioning you to take active measures to improve your gut health before the problem escalates into something big like autoimmune diseases or even cancer. How to improve your gut health? 

If you are facing the aforementioned problems, no need to worry. Here are some easy tips that can help you keep your Gut health in check.

• Eat smaller portions but eat more frequently. Start a high fibre diet & try including lots of probiotic food in your diet. Also, drink lots of water.
• Chew your food well. Don’t swallow half-chewed food.
• Try having a diverse diet that includes all food groups daily. Eat lots of fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, pickles, traditional buttermilk, apple cider vinegar, etc.
• Start salt water flush - drink lukewarm water with sea/Himalayan Salt first thing in the mornings.
• Have fresh smoothies and juices at least once a day.
• Include ginger or garlic in your tea or drink as an ale. Curtail regular consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
• Decrease your sugar and salt intake. Also, Refrain from indulging in fried or processed food.
• Eat food rich in antioxidants. Also include more resistant starchy food like potatoes, legumes, grains, rice, pulses, etc. in your daily diet.

All these may seem a little overwhelming at first but these are really simple ways for optimal gut health and their benefits extend way beyond just gut health. 

#Protip - Here are some fruits & veggies that are good for your gut health.

• Fruits like Bananas, Apples, Pineapples, Citrus, Berries, Grapes, Pomegranates, Kiwis & Mangoes can do wonders for your gut.
• Vegetables like Peas, Onion, Lentils, Beans, Broccoli, Potatoes, Lemon, Lime & Chickpeas are great for your gut.