The year is still young, so you have plenty of time to fulfill your New Year’s resolutions. If you haven’t added improving your gut health to your list, you might want to. It plays a leading role in your health, even affecting your mood. Did you know that your gut contains 90% of the serotonin receptors in your body?
Helpful microorganisms cover the surface of your body and intestinal lining, keeping pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria under control. About 38 trillion of them. This interplay between good (probiotics) and harmful bacteria throughout your body is called your microbiome, and typically the more good bacteria you have, the healthier you are.
Changing a few habits goes a long way toward improving your health. You’ve heard it before, “You are what you eat.” But it goes deeper than that. Here are five steps you can start now to improve your gut health and, thus, your overall health.
When you cook at home, you know exactly what’s in the food. You can choose organic products and monitor your food’s fats, sugars, salt, and chemical content. We’re not suggesting you avoid eating out at all, just that you increase the number of meals you prepare at home.
Preparing large batches of the food you cook and freezing it in individual portions cuts down on meal prep time, and you still have quick, healthy, home-cooked meals.
Researchers found that good bacteria are more common in the digestive tracts of people who eat a varied diet containing high-fiber foods such as nuts, spinach, fish, and full-fat, plain yogurt. One surprising finding was that identical twins only shared 34% of gut microbes, and unrelated people shared only 30%. Hence, genetics play a minor role in gut health, with diet the greater influence.
Recent studies have found that study participants with higher heart and lung fitness had more diverse bacterial gut populations than participants with lower levels. Exercise also helps with elimination, and better elimination limits the time harmful bacteria have to create havoc in your digestive tract.
Dr. Ohhira has crafted a powerful, high-quality probiotic that combines ancient Japanese wisdom and current scientific theory. It supports digestive comfort and nutrient absorption and boosts the immune system.
Based on ancient wisdom but using modern technology, Dr. Ohhira cultures 12 healthy bacterial strains together for three years, “teaching” the organisms to be stronger and work together so they more easily colonize the intestines. We then package the good bacteria in small vegetaria gel caps. You can trust this shelf-stable probiotic supplement’s quality, purity, and potency. Find out more or order on the Essential Formulas website.