Gut Flora And The Key To Gut Health

What if I told you that your overall health hinges on the quality of your gut health? Would that change how you eat? Would that change your outlook on your current condition? When I talk about gut health, I’m referring to all of your digestive organs, stomach, intestines, colon, etc. The gut is often referred to in the medical realm as your second brain because it literally dictates how everything else in the body functions. Aside from the gut, another important thing that needs to be talked about is gut bacteria which is responsible for maintaining the environment in your gut. Let’s dive into gut flora and the key to gut health.

Gut Flora & The Microbiome

Your gut microbiome or gut microbiota contains tens of trillions of microorganisims, including at least 1000 different species of known bacteria with more than 3 millions genes. These bacteria live in your intestinal tract and maintain the environment by helping digestion, cleaning out your intestinal tract, and fighting diseases.

Good Bacteria Vs Bad Bacteria

Not all gut bacteria is beneficial to us and this is what we have to watch out for. Bad bacteria can grow to the point where they wreak havoc on your gut when your diet consists of foods that feed them such as processed sugars, meat, dairy, and eggs. It just so happens that a western society diet is mostly built on these harmful foods, which is why illness like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and others are so prominent in countries that are greatly influenced by western society.

Improving Your Gut Health

Most diseases can be reversed simply by improving the environment of your gut. This can be done with a nutrient dense plant based diet. One of the biggest problems I see in people’s diet is nutrient deficiency even in people who over eat. This is always the case in diets that lack fruits and vegetables. Here are some key things to focus on adding to your diet.

Prebiotic Fiber – This is a type of fiber found in foods like onions, artichokes, garlic, leeks, and many others. This fiber serves as a food source for good bacteria known as probiotics. Read this article for more info on this.
Antioxidants – Are a substance that inhibits oxidation which is the process of deterioration in your cells. This lack of oxidative stress is what strengthens your immune system, prevents aging, and allows good gut bacteria to thrive. For this, eat grapefruit, berries, apples, bananas, and food of this nature.
Minerals – The 4 main minerals to consume more of to improve and fix gut issues are zinc, magnesium, Iron, and selenium. Foods that are rich in these nutrients are beans, nuts, and dark leafy greens.

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