It’s no secret that our gut is our second brain. A heck of a lot goes on inside this part of the body and that impacts how we feel both physically and mentally. That’s why it’s so important to make sure we look after ourselves properly and maintain it!
Meditation for a Healthy Gut
We’ve seen a rise of meditation therapies to help people have a calmer gut, especially those who suffer from digestive issues like IBS. Nerva is a good example. Similarly, there are apps that allow you to track what you’re eating, how much you go to the loo, and what if any discomfort you’re experiencing. The best way to figure out what your body is sensitive to is by keeping track and while it may sound tedious, the longer-term benefits are worth it.
Get those probiotics!
It’s a phrase we keep hearing, but for good reason. Probiotics help keep our gut healthy, creating bacteria that aid the digestion of food and fend off bad bacteria. If you find you keep getting sick or feeling run down, it could very well be that you don’t have enough healthy bacteria in your gut!
There’s a number of things you can eat to help this:
- Probiotic supplements
- Fermented foods
- Raw milk
- Varieties of cheese
- Varieties of yogurt
- Sourdough
Get a better night’s sleep!
Your gut and brain are in constant communication via our body clock. Notice how you get hungry and go to the loo at certain times of the day? Yep, hello body clock. Sleeping at the same time each night allows this rhythm to stay in tune – making a healthier gut and a happier mood.
In the same way we need to keep our brain hydrated, the same is true for our gut. There’s a lot of acid churning around and ensuring you have your 2 – 2.5 litres of water each day can help you remain hydrated and working as efficiently as possible.
Let your Gut rest!
If you allow your gut to take a break from food for 12 hours (i.e. after your final meal of the day) it begins to restore and heal itself – promoting the growth of healthy bacteria and wiping out the bad ones. Some bacteria such as Akkermansia Muciniphila really benefit from a good ol’ fast and help restore and strengthen the lining of your gut when they aren’t being utilised by the digestive process. Basically, eat dinner than quit the snacks – you’ll feel a hell of a lot better for it.
Uh oh… Alcohol and the Gut!
You may think I’m going to tell you drinking is bad… but it’s not. As long as it’s less but better. Studies have shown how a glass of red wine actually helps protect inflammation and disease, increasing the helpful bacteria too. The trick is to drink in moderation and not get utterly shizzled. Excess alcohol can lead to bad bacteria being born alongside constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and more, none of which are particularly sexy. As I say, drink less, but better and perhaps introduce a little no-low to your life – there’s a substantial amount of options these days.
Medication: Real Need vs. Psychological
If you’re guilty of turning to meds for any form of pain regardless of how mild, you could be damaging your gut – so just be careful. Sometimes when you’ve got a headache a simple 10-minute meditation can help put it at bay. Long-term use of NSAID’s (like aspirin or ibuprofen) can really damage the gut lining and destroy the positive microbes. This can lead to irritation in the intestinal lining, inflammation and in some cases bleeding. So before you pop another pill, think, do I REALLY need this or is it more a psychological thing?
Here are some fantastic resources to help you with your GUT discovery:
Articles
https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/16-easy-hacks-to-enhance-your-gut-health-every-day-in-2020/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/what_should_you_eat_for_a_healthy_gut
Podcast – The Gut Health Doctor
https://open.spotify.com/episode/47MUwgdP70FANzyKvgusJm?si=NnfVEf79TvWPxLm3DLH_HA
Looking for other ways to help you enter 2021 in a calmer, happier way? Then, check out our other videos including CBD, Write, Light and Green here.