How to Improve Gut Health

You may think that you are ‘you’, but you actually share your body with millions and millions of other organisms, all of whom you simply could not function without.

For example, inside your intestines there are around 40 trillion organisms that make up your gut bacteria. The majority of your ‘gut microbiota’ are good for your health, but you can also unwittingly contribute towards the proliferation of ‘bad’ bacteria if you do not properly take care of yourself, and if you eat too much of the wrong types of food. Bad bacteria in the gut can lead to health problems, some of which can be extremely serious.

Improve Your Diet in Order to Improve Your Gut Bacterial Health

There are several ways in which you can promote the creation of good bacteria and reduce the number of bad bacteria, and most of those are based on your diet.

In the US, dietary variety is something that can be difficult to achieve as it is not really considered to be the norm. The typical Western diet has too much fat and sugar, and not enough in the way of vegetables, fruit, and beans.

To promote a varied range of bacteria you need to eat a varied diet. Research has shown that having a varied range of microbiota (gut bacteria) is the best way to keep your gut healthy. One study suggests that having a wide range of fruit and vegetables in your diet can prevent the growth of ‘bad’ bacteria.

Fruit and vegetables that are high in fiber are very good for you as well. These include artichokes, chickpeas, beans, green peas, lentils, and whole grains. Apples, almonds, blueberries, and pistachios will help you to increase the number of bacteria within your gut that acts to prevent intestinal inflammation.

Fermented Foods Can Help You Improve the Natural Way in Which Your Gut Functions

Fermented foods are also a good way of improving your overall gastric health. Foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut are all fermented by the addition of bacteria or yeast which converts their natural sugars to acid or alcohol. People who tend to eat a lot of fermented foods usually have more beneficial bacteria within their gut in comparison to those who don’t.

You can also obtain probiotic supplements as a means of improving your gastric health. Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when consumed, change the overall composition of the microbiota within you. If you find it hard to follow a healthy diet even though you try your best, you could benefit by including a probiotic supplement within your daily routine. If you are having mild gastric issues then you could try a probiotic as a means of helping improve the way that you feel.

If you are having problems with your gastric health, or you just want the reassurance that you are looking after your gastric health in the correct manner and that everything is functioning as it should, then please contact our team at Great Lakes Gastroenterology. We can be contacted by phone at 440-205-1225, or by using the online contact form available on our website.