When you hear the word “gut,” what comes to mind?
Maybe you think of your tummy area, or your entire digestive process, or perhaps that uncomfortable bloated feeling after a fun night out (we’ve all been there!). You’re not wrong, but let’s dive a little deeper into what we really mean when we talk about your gut.
The gut, also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is the part of the body that digests food, absorbs nutrients, and excretes waste. It includes the stomach, intestines, and colon.
So, why is the GI tract so special? It’s the cozy home of your gut microbiome—a bustling community of tiny microorganisms that play a crucial role in your overall health.
And that’s where all the magic happens…
What Is the Gut Microbiome?
Referring specifically to the ecosystem of itty-bitty microorganisms that reside in your intestines, the gut microbiome hosts about 500 to 1,000 different species of bacteria.
While some bacteria are harmful to our health, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body.
Good bacteria (aka probiotics) keep you healthy by supporting your immune function and keeping inflammation in check. Certain types of friendly bacteria can also:
- Promote healthy digestion
- Keep parthenogenic bacteria from getting out of whack
- Create vitamins
- Fight against disease
- Help support the cells that line and protect your gut to prevent unfriendly bacteria from entering your bloodstream
- Break down and absorb medications and supplements
As you can see, friendly bacteria play a pretty significant role in your overall health. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance to do everything you can to keep these little critters happy and healthy.
Sometimes, things can disrupt the delicate balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut, which can quickly lead to several uncomfortable symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal cramps, and constipation.
Thankfully, to bring balance back, all you have to do is reset your gut health.
How to Hit the Reset Button on Your Gut Health: What You Need to Know
Believe it or not, there are many facets of modern everyday life — such as poor sleep, high-stress levels, and eating processed foods — that can wreak havoc on your gut microbiome.
When your gut operates as it should, there’s a harmonious balance of bacteria helping your body function and get energy from the foods you eat, flush out toxins, combat disease, and boost your mood. However, when this balance gets disrupted, your general health can take a turn for the worst.
Here are some of the warning signs that are indicative of an unhealthy gut:
- Upset or sour stomach
- Constant fatigue
- Sleep issues
- Moodiness
- Skin rashes and allergies
- Constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), excessive gas or bloating
- Autoimmune problems like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid issues, and type 1 diabetes
- Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
- Intense sugar cravings
- Skin issues, such as acne
- Dull hair
- Brittle nails
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, your body may benefit from a gut health reset. So, what’s the best way to reset your gut health, you ask?
Here are a few tips below:
Tip #1: Fuel Up on Fiber
You may already know that fiber is key when it comes to a healthy digestive system, but did you know that the fiber found in certain fiber-rich foods contains prebiotics — aka, food for the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut?
Healthy foods that contain these very beneficial gut-lovin’ prebiotics include:
- Legumes
- Beans
- Artichokes
- Brussels sprouts
- Bananas
- Garlic
- Asparagus
- Oats
- Peas
- Lentils
By noshing on healthy foods full of prebiotic fiber, you provide healing nutrients to your friendly gut bacteria, which helps them combat the not-so-friendly gut bacteria.
Tip #2: Take a Daily Probiotic
To give the beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut a boost, you may want to consider taking a daily probiotic — like Gut Feelings Probiotics.
Say hello to your immune system’s new best friend and first line of defense, our innovative prebiotic and probiotic formula supports gut bacteria’s entire life-cycle. A whopping 3 billion CFUs of probiotic strains work together to support healthy gut function and digestion.
When the bacteria in your gut ferment properly, they become postbiotics and improve the gut lining resulting in immunity support. Balance, optimize and support a calm, happy, and healthy digestive system with just one capsule a day.*
Want to really enhance your gut health? In addition to adding Gut Feelings Probiotics to your daily supplement line up, fill your plate with fermented foods such as:
- Kefir
- Kimchi
- Kombucha
- Fermented veggies
- Miso
- Tempeh
- Sauerkraut
Tip #3: Kick Your Sugar Addiction
We hate to be the bearer of bad news for those with a sweet tooth, but consuming a whole lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners may cause gut dysbiosis — an imbalance of gut microbes due to the disruption of the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to avoid sugar for all of eternity. But if you’re experiencing any symptoms indicative of an unhealthy gut, steering clear of sweets for a few weeks may help reset your gut health.
As soon as your symptoms subside and you feel better, you can slowly reintroduce sugar back into your diet if you’d like — just remember, balance is key!
Tip #4: Drink More H2O
Keeping yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water has been proven to positively affect the mucosal lining of the intestines and the balance of good bacteria in the gut.
So, to support the health of your gut, simply grab your water jug and get to sippin’! Easy enough, right? To provide your body with the water it needs to function optimally and support good gut health, general recommendations suggest that you aim to drink six to eight glasses of water each day.
Tip #5: Get Enough Good Quality Shut-Eye
Experts recommend that adults aim for seven to nine hours of restful sleep per night.
Why? Because sleep gives the body time to heal and relax while allowing the mind to rest and recuperate. Sleep also allows for a period of fasting, which has many benefits for gut health.
Struggling to summon the sandman? Try Sleeping Beauty — a super sleepy supplement made with natural ingredients to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.*
This sleep-inducing formula combines a dreamy blend of melatonin, magnesium, and valerian root to support a good night’s rest, leaving you drowsy-free in the morning.
Simply take one or two capsules 60 minutes before bedtime, slip on your comfy-cozy Love Wellness Sleep Mask, and wake up feeling refreshed.
A Final Word
Maintaining good gut health can be tough— but it’s not impossible!
To support the hard-working, friendly bacteria that live in your digestive tract, reach for fiber-rich foods, aim to get seven to nine hours of shut-eye each night, drink plenty of H2O, and reduce your sugar intake.
Good gut health won’t happen overnight, but stick with the tips and tricks above, and sooner rather than later, you’ll see just how good it feels to have a healthy and happy gut.
Here at Love Wellness, we’re on a mission to help women fight everyday symptoms with natural solutions that are made using organic and safe ingredients for the female body.
We've got your back, whether you’re struggling with acne, dealing with an unhappy gut, or simply looking for personal care products that don’t suck.
Sources:
How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? | Sleep Foundation
The Importance of Hydration | SATH
Dysbiosis - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics