Gut health is an increasingly trendy term lately, and we’re here to tell you that the hype is all for good reason. Latest medical evidence suggests a strong link between good gut health and improved skin, mood and physical health. Three essential things to care for, in our opinion! 

But what is gut health, why should you be mindful of it, and how do you improve it? 

Without getting too science-y, “gut health” describes the function and balance of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract. Food choices, stress and lifestyle factors all play a crucial role in influencing which gut bacteria thrive. Good gut health is paramount to whole-body health. Essentially, good gut health contributes to heart health, brain health, improved mood and sleep and can even prevent cancers and autoimmune diseases. So, yes, good gut health matters! 

We’ve narrowed down 5 simple ways you can improve your gut health. 

Beauty begins in the belly — so let’s get started! 

 

PROBIOTICS 

 

Probiotics are made up of good bacteria that can be found in your body. Their central role is to help eliminate extra harmful bacteria and restore a healthy balance of bad to good bacteria ratio. You can take probiotics as a supplement; however, you can find probiotics in natural foods such as yoghurt. Probiotics can also be found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi. Did we mention that probiotics reside in sourdough bread and some cheeses? I mean, who doesn’t sourdough with cheese? 

 

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

 

An older piece of folk wisdom, ‘you are what you eat’, refers to the idea that food controls a person’s health. It goes without saying that what you eat directly influences the microbiome (fancy word for the makeup of bacteria in your gut) in your stomach and, as a result, impacts your physical and mental health. A healthy gut prevents chronic diseases, inflammation and helps you feel your best. I’m sure we can all relate to those feels when we’re clean eating — energetic as ever, no mental fog, no bloating and just an overall sense of feeling ‘good’. So there’s no better time to add some nuts, legumes, beans, fruit and anything that represents Mother Nature into your diet (think of it as living by the laws of nature). If you are looking for inspiration to start your journey to a healthy gut, we recommend The Beauty Chef: Delicious Food for Radiant Skin, Gut Health and Wellbeing. Carla Oates does a fantastic job examining the relationship between food choices and how it influences gut health. Not to mention, the book is infused with flavours and ingredients that satisfy the taste buds and the gut.  

 

EXERCISE 

 

We know it requires some effort, but exercise is responsible for producing all those feel-good chemicals that make you feel confident and happy. Think endorphins, dopamine and adrenaline. Whether it is a brisk walk by the beach, a short jog on your treadmill or hitting your favourite circuit at the gym — exercise diversifies the types of bacteria that reside in your gut and reduce inflammation. Our favourite at-home circuit to roll the mat out for is ‘Tru Fit by Michael’ — affordable and simple workout routines that will beautify you from your belly. 

 

MEDITATION

 

Have you ever had a “gut-wrenching” experience? Have you experienced a ‘bad’ feeling in your gut because you knew something did not seem right? Do you feel nauseous when you feel anxious? Have you ever felt “butterflies” in your stomach? These expressions have been used deliberately to highlight that the gut-brain connection is no joke. The gut and brain are connected physically through millions of nerves, specifically the vagus nerve. What we found most interesting during our research is ‘vagus’ means “wanderer” in Latin. Thoughts “wander” through your brain and create physical symptoms in your stomach. Take a moment to think of the last time you felt anger, anxiety or sadness. We are pretty sure you felt them in your stomach, too (do you get where we are going with this)? 

What we’re trying to get at here is that the vagus nerve is part of the Parasympathetic nervous system responsible for slowing down the heart rate, breathing, and digestive function. Sometimes your nervous system works against you, and you can learn to control your response to stress via meditation. Meditation has the ability to teach you to manage your vagal tone and, as a result, help your body relax when you experience any unpleasant symptoms of stress or emotions. Your gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotion. If you feel too much in your gut, we suggest pausing during your day and practising some meditation to improve mood, well-being, and resilience. 

 

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

 

While we were surfing the net, we found that ‘sleep’ and staying ‘hydrated’ were also crucial in improving gut health. We considered adding them in this blog post, but we felt it would sound too cliche because of how apparent they are to good health. So, we decided to go the extra mile in our research and ta-da! We found that Chinese herbal medicine has the power to detoxify our gut and treat gastrointestinal disorders. Essentially, the ancient Chinese suggested that every living thing is sustained where there is a balance of two opposing forces of energy, otherwise known as Yin and Yang. Together they make up what is known as ‘Qi’: a type of energy that flows through the body. Similar to an imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut, if there is no balance between Yin and Yang, the Qi will be distributed. Hence, Chinese medicine is underpinned by this balance of Yin and Yang and is formulated using plant-based ingredients. Depending on your needs, most Chinese medicine can be tailored to your body by visiting a Naturopath. However, if you are looking for a great alternative with gut-healing benefits, we recommend investing in Zilch Herbal Chinese Medicine. 

 

SUMMARY

 

What we hope you take from this blog is that gut health is a complex and essential part of our bodies that provides support for digestive function, protection against diseases and helping us feel our best both physically and mentally. The link the gut has to whole-body health is worth paying attention to. We hope this blog post inspires your journey to improved gut health and marks the start of a more conscious way of living.