Gut health influences how our body performs | good quality input = good quality output.
There's an array of negative repercussions caused by neglecting your gut, affecting sleep, energy, skin, immunity & food intolerances.
Improving your gut health is simple. The key is introducing foods containing good bacteria into your daily diet. Along with drinking plenty of water, a balanced diet consisting of fibre-rich & plant-based foods is vital. Stay mindful of stress, and practice some form daily exercise, these essential practices lays the foundation of good gut health.
Here are 5 foods to incorporate into your diet to promote good gut health:
1. Oats
A staple breakfast food, oats are high in three different types of fibre which are essential for healthy gut bacteria – insoluble fibre (the fibre that helps keep things moving throughout your digestive system), soluble fibre (the fibre that helps keep you fuller for longer and reduces cholesterol) and resistant starch (this acts as a fuel for your gut bacteria).
2. Legumes
Legumes, including peas, chickpeas, beans, and lentils, are another outstanding source of fibre & protein, along with numerous vitamins and minerals. They’re also really easy to incorporate into your daily diet, legumes are an excellent addition to many dishes, including in soups, curries & salads.
3. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is naturally high in probiotics, which are the good bacteria that’s found in your gut.
Regular consumption helps absorb good bacteria in the gut. We love having yoghurt as a snack with fruit and nuts even as an addition when making curries, pasta sauces or salad dressing. Plant-based yogurts are the perfect substitute for those who steer clear from dairy.
4. Sauerkraut
A great source of probiotics, fibre and vitamins, sauerkraut is an amazing superfood that not only helps improve your gut health, but also boosts your immunity. Benefits of Sauerkraut come from the fermentation process, which is the process of breaking down the carbohydrates in food and create conditions that promote the growth of probiotics. Sauerkraut is the perfect to salads, in burgers/sandwiches or as a side with eggs at breakfast.
5. Almonds
A handful of almonds make a great mid-morning or afternoon snack as they are high in fibre which keeps you feeling full, and they’re also full of probiotics and fatty acids. Almonds are great by themselves as a snack, or as an addition to smoothies, muffins or salads.
written by Isabella