Recently gut health has become a hot topic where many people are realizing their digestive patterns are not normal and usually highly uncomfortable. After going so long with regularly painful stomach issues, constipation, nausea etc, it is important to dig deeper and figure out what is the root cause.

The gut generally refers to the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, but specifically, here the gut will refer to the intestines. The gut is a lot more important than most would expect. The gut relates to digestion, but also hormone balance, immunity, nutrient absorption, and mental health. This is why gut health is important and we should strive to improve it. Here we will discuss all the good gut health foods.

Prebiotics are indigestible fibers found naturally in foods that benefit our gut health. When consumed, this prebiotics will feed the healthy bacteria in our gut. Feeding these bacteria is important because they will starve and die without the nutrients and then our microbial diversity will decrease. Gut bacteria is one of the most important factors in the entirety of our gut health. These bacteria help to digest and absorb nutrients, pass bowel movements, and defend against pathogens. Prebiotics can also promote the immune system against illness, and they can help improve bone health because the prebiotics help to absorb calcium.

Gut health is essential for digestion, absorption of nutrients, stress levels, and mental health. Foods that contain probiotics help to maintain a healthy gut.

The intestines in our gut contain multiple tiny microorganisms, like bacteria, that are beneficial to improve the absorption of nutrients and defend against toxins. The balance of this bacteria is critical, and it’s known as the gut microbiome. Sometimes the good bacteria can decrease, and the bad bacteria can increase, causing issues.

Probiotics are live healthy bacteria found in foods that aid the gut microbiome. The best food sources of probiotics include yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha, kefir, and miso. Let’s discuss all the specific benefits of probiotics for gut health.

Alcohol and leaky gut is a common correlation in avid drinkers. Ingestion of alcohol, even in nonintoxicated individuals, can lead to a leaky gut.

The inside of the small intestine is called the lumen, and its job is to absorb nutrients from the inside of the gut and have them enter the bloodstream. The lumen is made up of a barrier of cells, only one cell deep, and it’s important for these cells to remain tightly packed to only led in nutrients and nothing else. During alcohol consumption, the junctions or spaces between these cells in the lumen widen, allowing toxins and undigested food particles to pass through into the bloodstream which is not good. This increases the permeability of the lumen, which is how it gets the name leaky gut because there isn’t much regulation on what gets passed in our bloodstream, creating a ‘leak’. Many different negative outcomes can result from alcohol and leaky gut.