4 WAYS TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY GUT
If you’ve been staying up to date on nutritional health, you know gut health is important. But aside from those commercials trying to get you to eat your body weight in yogurt, you might not have any idea how to promote a healthy gut.
Here are four easy ways to improve gut health:
Drink up. Keeping the mucosal lining of the intestines well hydrated is one of the simplest ways to support a healthy gut. Aim for one-half to one ounce of fluid per pound of body weight every day.
Move your body. Exercise can influence the gut microbiome and helps promote the growth of the good bacteria that create butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that helps control inflammation and supports healthy digestion.
Load up on fiber. Eating a balanced diet that includes adequate fiber (30 to 40 grams daily) is essentially food for the good bacteria. The more good bacteria, the more butyrate. Fiber comes from grains, legumes, fruits, oatmeal, and vegetables.
Don’t forget about probiotics. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha contain good bacteria to help keep a healthy balance.