18/10/2019
🤢GUTS, BACTERIA, AND P**P, OH MY! This has got to be one of my favorite topics in nutrition. Why? Our wise friend Hippocrates explains it best when he says, “All disease begins in the gut.” It may explain why your bowl movements are irregular or of the wrong texture (don’t act like ya’ll don’t know what I’m talking about), the flare ups of acne on your face, or even your low immune system. If your body is crying out for help, there’s a good chance your gut health is not where it should be. So while you technically are what you eat, the real truth is that YOU ARE WHAT YOU ABSORB (or lack thereof).
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🙌🏻Fortunately we can boost our gut health through food and nutrition! Your gut microbiota is the community of micro-organisms (bacteria & fungi) that exist in the human gastrointestinal tract. DO NOT BE ALARMED-- these bacteria are GOOD and allow your body to function properly/prevent future diseases like type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, atopic eczema, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS) and cardiovascular disease, to name a few.
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📚A 2013 article in the British Medical Journal note that environmental factors likes diet and drugs significantly effect gut health. It also notes that added sugars (high fructose corn syrup found in many beverages and processed foods) and saturated fatty acid (fried & fast foods) negatively affect gut health.
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🥛🥦On the other hand, foods high in fiber (oats, whole grain, sprouted grains, whole fruits & veggies), high in probiotics (Kefir, Kombucha, Kimchi, Sauerkraut), and polyphenols (berries, olives, asparagus, artichokes, tea) promote the growth of good bacteria and increased intestinal barrier protectors.
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💊Probiotic supplementation has also been found to have several beneficial effects on gut health. I personally recommend non-synthetic supplements from a company called “Standard Process” (will explain why in detail later this week).
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💆🏼♀️TREAT YO SELF! Consume some probiotic enhancing foods like I mentioned above and over time, your body with thank you!