In the first blog of our gut health blog series, we looked at the importance of the digestive system (the complex combination of body parts, which also include the intestines, mouth, oesophagus, and stomach), as well as some of the symptoms that can alert us to the fact that the gut is in ‘distress’.
Here, in the second part to the series, we look at some of the dietary changes that can be made to ensure optimum gut health, as well as which types of foods to avoid.
Include these foods and ingredients in your daily diet:
- Foods rich in probiotics (such as yoghurt, sauerkraut and kombucha)
- Fibre-rich foods (such as wholegrains, fruit and vegetables).
Try to limit/avoid these foods and ingredients where possible:
- High-GI foods (white bread, white rice, sugary drinks)
- Sugar-rich foods (such as processed meals, sweetened cereals and too many take-outs)
- Foods high in saturated and trans-fats (red meat such as pork, lamb and beef).
Keep your gut biome happy
The reason for including or avoiding the above-mentioned foods in your daily diet is to ensure that your digestive system, which houses trillions of little ‘gut bugs’, collectively known as our gut microbiome, can function effectively, and thereby positively influence your overall wellness.
Eating right is the first step to set you on the road to ensuring a healthy gut. But there are other lifestyle factors to consider. These include:
- Disease state (if you are living with disease, this might affect your gut health)
- Are you getting enough? This is vital for good gut (and general) health
- Stress levels (anxiety and stress can directly affect the digestive system by triggering the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of the cortisol hormone, which can lead to anything from stomach discomfort to diarrhoea)
- Various medications (some painkillers and anti-inflammatories can cause stomach upsets).
Take action
Ensuring your gut microbiome is healthy and well balanced will prevent bad bacteria from negatively affecting your immune system and thereby, your overall health. Containing anti-oxidant-rich ingredients that also have anti-inflammatory properties, VitaminMe Debloating + Digestion tablets contain milk thistle, turmeric and fennel – all of which have been scientifically proven to rapidly relieve symptoms such as stomach discomfort, abdominal bloating and distension.
For more tips on maintaining optimum digestive health, read the blog in this series of our gut wellness blog, and if you have more questions, take advantage of our free consultation and speak to our dietitian.
Visit vitaminme.co.za for more about our premium vitamin product range, read up on healthy lifestyle tips and more.