How To Improve Gut Health Beyond Eating Right
Size Squares/Shutterstock By Paige McBride/Sept. 23, 2021 2:12 pm EST
Gut health is a serious wellness trend right now — and for good reason. A healthy digestive system is a crucial part of overall health, but eating the right foods is only half of the battle. Once you’ve found out which foods keep your system running smoothly, it’s a good idea to check on other areas of your routine that can be impacting your digestion.
According to Mindbodygreen, the gut controls up to 80% of the immune system and also directly interacts with mental health, as it’s responsible for releasing serotonin and dopamine. To properly keep your digestion strong, it’s important to look at your overall lifestyle beyond just what you’re eating. The outlet recommends giving your system a break at night, meaning that you give your body a full 12 hours without food to rest your digestion. If you eat breakfast around 7:30, that means your last meal should finish up around 7:30 PM as well. That way, your organs will have time to catch up on things overnight and keep things humming along in the morning. Furthermore, Cooking Light attests, getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D can be incredibly helpful for your overall health. The outlet cites a study finding that optimal Vitamin D levels produced a healthier environment in which gut-friendly bacteria could grow. Find a supplement at your local health foods store and stock up.
How To Improve Gut Health Beyond Eating Right
Size Squares/Shutterstock
By Paige McBride/Sept. 23, 2021 2:12 pm EST
Gut health is a serious wellness trend right now — and for good reason. A healthy digestive system is a crucial part of overall health, but eating the right foods is only half of the battle. Once you’ve found out which foods keep your system running smoothly, it’s a good idea to check on other areas of your routine that can be impacting your digestion.
According to Mindbodygreen, the gut controls up to 80% of the immune system and also directly interacts with mental health, as it’s responsible for releasing serotonin and dopamine. To properly keep your digestion strong, it’s important to look at your overall lifestyle beyond just what you’re eating. The outlet recommends giving your system a break at night, meaning that you give your body a full 12 hours without food to rest your digestion. If you eat breakfast around 7:30, that means your last meal should finish up around 7:30 PM as well. That way, your organs will have time to catch up on things overnight and keep things humming along in the morning. Furthermore, Cooking Light attests, getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D can be incredibly helpful for your overall health. The outlet cites a study finding that optimal Vitamin D levels produced a healthier environment in which gut-friendly bacteria could grow. Find a supplement at your local health foods store and stock up.
According to Mindbodygreen, the gut controls up to 80% of the immune system and also directly interacts with mental health, as it’s responsible for releasing serotonin and dopamine. To properly keep your digestion strong, it’s important to look at your overall lifestyle beyond just what you’re eating. The outlet recommends giving your system a break at night, meaning that you give your body a full 12 hours without food to rest your digestion. If you eat breakfast around 7:30, that means your last meal should finish up around 7:30 PM as well. That way, your organs will have time to catch up on things overnight and keep things humming along in the morning.
Furthermore, Cooking Light attests, getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D can be incredibly helpful for your overall health. The outlet cites a study finding that optimal Vitamin D levels produced a healthier environment in which gut-friendly bacteria could grow. Find a supplement at your local health foods store and stock up.
Drink the right liquids for better gut health
Igor Serik/Shutterstock
Of course, lifestyle factors like exercise also impact your gut health as well. Cooking Light suggests regularly breaking a sweat to help eliminate toxins and reduce inflammation. Research also shows that exercise can positively impact gut flora overall.