Over the last few decades, humans have been increasingly and steadily consuming processed foods. Wholesome foods are being replaced quite rapidly by processed ones because they do not need much preparation to be edible, and this convenience suits the fast-paced life that most people lead nowadays.
However, processed foods are not natural and the increased dependence on them is probably the main cause of poor gut health and a number of other health problems.
What is referred to as the gut is actually the whole of the digestive tract, starting from the stomach down to the large intestines. The gut plays a vital role in maintaining bodily functions by processing ingested food, absorbing nutrients from it, and eliminating waste and toxins.
It is an old belief of the Chinese and the Indians that the overall state of health is determined by the state of the gut. This belief is now being revisited by holistic health practitioners.
Common health problems today, from allergies and acne, to liver problems and cancer, may be traced back to a disrupted digestive system. Poor food choices, parasites and the abundance of bad bacteria may cause leaky gut, where there is increased permeability in the digestive tract, allowing partially digested food to cross the bloodstream and cause inflammatory responses.
Thankfully though, the body has the ability to heal itself. Here are four steps to follow to heal your gut naturally and improve your overall health:
1. Basic Dietary Changes
The gut should be cleansed and all the bad substances should be removed. Since most gut problems originate from food, harmful ones should be identified and eliminated.This means that all offending food such as processed food, alcohol, bad fats, caffeine, sugar, and other similar stuff should be removed from the diet as any of these could act as stressors to the digestive tract, causing abnormal responses that could lead to health disorders.
Many people also find relief by eliminating gluten or dairy from their diet. they are known to cause allergic reactions and digestion problems. Eliminate them from your diet for a month, slowly introduce them back, and see what happens. If symptoms reappear, you’ve found the root cause of your digestive issue.
2. Eat Clean
We should be more mindful about the food we eat and veer away from processed food, especially those made from genetically modified organisms.Wholesome, unprocessed foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, should be the first ones to be reintroduced in the diet as these can help in the healing and repair of the gut.
Also read my previous article: Clean Eating 101: Simple Rules To Live A Healthy And Clean Lifestyle
3. Restore Bacterial Balance
The gut is home to all sorts of bacteria, both the good and the bad. The key to a healthy gut is to continuously introduce probiotics in the diet by consuming fermented food and beverage on a regular basis. Food such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut, and beverages like kefir, ginger beer, and kombucha, are excellent sources of beneficial bacteria.
4. Replace Digestive Enzymes
Proper digestion is carried out when acids and digestive enzymes in the gut are in optimum levels. To ensure this, one should eat pH balancing foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, parsley, and the like. These green, leafy vegetables keep stomach acids in order, thus promoting healthy digestion.
Follow these easy steps yo keep your gut clean and improve your overall health. Many of our ailment can be solved by taking care of our digestive tract.
About the author:
Amy is a life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach. She is the founder of the healthy lifestyle website body-in-balance.org and creator of the online program, “ThinForever”. After successfully changing her family’s health and happiness, she’s on a mission to help other people achieve the life and body they want. You can find here on Facebook or Google+ or get her FREE clean, whole food recipe eBook “Amy’s Home Kitchen” here.
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