It is very important to improve gut health as it is a vital part of the digestive system. Let’s understand it in details.
What is gut health?
The term “Gut health” defines the countless microorganisms that inhabit in the digestive tracts of humans. It is often known as the Human gastrointestinal microbiota or gut flora. A healthy gut accommodates certain healthy bacteria which saves us from getting infected by bad bacteria, viruses and fungi. A healthy gut can uplift your general health and well-being. The principle function of these healthy bacteria is to digest food without discomfort and boost immune system by preventing weight gain, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and other disorders. It also acts like a second brain to humans by sharing information with the brain through nerves and hormones. Thus the gut flora plays a vital part in your health.
Improve your gut health
The colon is the ultimate part of our digestive system. There are some beneficial bacteria reside in the colon, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus help in metabolism and digestion.
An unhealthy diet high in fatty and greasy foods, artificial sweeteners, low in fiber negatively affect blood sugar levels which puts harmful effects on the gut microbiota.
Therefore choosing a diet focuses on eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains offers a combination of prebiotics and probiotics that help good bacteria to grow in the colon.
Fruits such as
Apples, artichokes, blueberries, almonds and pistachios may increase the growth of Bifidobacteria, a useful bacteria in the colon, which helps in curing intestinal inflammation and enhance gut health.
Fermented foods such as
Natural yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir are the great source of probiotics. Eating these foods improve the function of microbiota and can diminish a large number of parasites and microbes such as bacterias, viruses that cause diseases in the intestines.
Prebiotics, an another compound found in some foods boost the growth of beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacteria that reduces the symptoms of metabolic syndrome in obese people.
Fiber is a prebiotic. A plenty of fiber is found in legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The importance of eating fiber is to keep your digestive system healthy. It maintains regular bowel movements, prevents constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and several types of cancers.
Besides, the non-digestible carbs found in whole grains also assist the growth of useful bacteria within the gut microbiota. These changes to the gut flora may enhance certain parts of metabolic health.
The gut functions thoroughly and relentlessly in your body. The principle works that a gut performs in the body are
- Helps digestion,
- Removes toxins,
- Absorbs nutrients such as vitamins and minerals,
- Controls hormones,
- Benefits immune system,
- Boosts mental health.
Anxiety and gut health
The movement and contractions of the GI tract can be influenced by anxiety, fear, worries or any sort of stress. It sometimes becomes even more painful due to heavy stress and depression. Many observations have demonstrated that therapies based on psychology contribute greater help to improve digestive symptoms rather than treating with medicines traditionally.
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