Your gut health is so important to the rest of your body’s overall health. Chances are if you have a healthy gut you probably also have a healthy body, but if you have poor gut health you might find yourself getting sick more frequently. The good news is that you can change your diet to improve your health and focus on foods that heal! When it comes to foods that heal, there are two main categories that this article will focus on: probiotics and prebiotics.
Probiotics
Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that live in your gut microbiome. Foods that are rich in probiotics tend to be fermented foods, and a food is usually fermented by leaving it out on the counter for a long enough period of time that it’s exposed to bacteria and yeast.
Of course you can’t ferment every single kind of food. For instance you can’t just leave a chicken out on your counter and hope that after ten days it’ll be fermented and good for you. It’ll give you Salmonella so don’t try it. On the other hand, you can ferment lots of vegetables.
Foods That Contain Probiotics
A really rich source of probiotics is sauerkraut, which is simply fermented cabbage. You might have had sauerkraut on a burger or hot dog before, but maybe try adding it a salad with a creamy salad dressing! Other foods on the list are:
- kimchi
- tempeh (fermented soy beans)
- yogurt
- miso
- olives
- pickles (pickled in salt water not vinegar)
- kombucha
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are found in high fiber foods and induces the growth of probiotics. So basically probiotics feed off of prebiotics! The reason you want the healthy gut bacteria to grow is because the more diverse your good bacteria, the healthier your gut will be. Which means you can lower your risks of chronic illnesses and inflammation. Dietary fiber is found in fruits vegetables, whole grains legumes, nuts, seeds.
Foods That Contain Prebiotics
Great sources of prebiotics include:
- onions
- garlic
- artichokes
- asparagus
- leeks
- sweet potatoes
- bananas
- legumes
- whole grains
So you see, eating well doesn’t have to be hard. It can be a simple, delicious and realistic part of your everyday life. Even better, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods or your social life in order to be healthy or to incorporate some foods that heal into your lifestyle. As part of your treatment plan, we offer guidance and tips on basic nutrition. To learn more about your health, wellness, and eating foods that help your body work at its very best, contact us today!
