Digestive Health

If you are experiencing digestive problems such as diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and gas or your immune system lets you down you may be experiencing the effects of imbalances within your gut micro-biome. A sign of a healthy gut is not only good digestion but also passing regular formed bowel motions and being free from uncomfortable symptoms.

Did you know that the foods that you eat rapidly alter your gut health and ultimately affect your over all health?

When you consume processed foods and drinks then your gut can become irritated and inflamed.  More than 70% of your immune system is found in the gut and inflammation is your immune system warning you that these foods may be harmful to the sensitive lining of your gut.

Ways to help Help heal an unhealthy gut:

1) Eating plenty of plant-based dietary fibre found in fruit and vegetables whole grains and legumes. Fibre promotes the natural movements and adds bulk to the stool helps to keep you regular as well as supporting healthy bowel function. What’re more the ‘friendly’ bacteria love to feed on plant fibre. However, when they don’t have enough they also feed on the protective gut lining, wearing it down and leading to irritation and inflammation.

So remember to keep your gut happy and well-fed choosing from a wide range of vegetables and fruit,

2) Make sure that you keep your fluid intake up as this helps with digestion. 6-8 glasses of water a day and this is FREE.

3) Minimise your intake of sugar.  Sugar encourages the growth of harmful pathogens in the gut.

4) Keep on top of your stress. Have you ever noticed that your digestive system plays up during stressful periods. Through a complex network of nerves and tissue, it's a two-way street as the gut and brain communicate with each other, also influencing your digestive and immune function.

5) Ways to deal with stress.  Some gentle regular exercise such as a walk-in nature, yoga, Pilates, meditation and 7-8 hours of restful sleep.

6) There are beneficial herbs that can help your gut such as Boswellia which has anti-inflammatory properties. Glutamine this in an amino acid which helps protect the lining of your GIT leading to an easing of pain and uncomfortable digestive symptoms.

7) Nutrients that help heal and irritated gut lining are Vitamin A and D zinc helps support healthy digestion.

8) Probiotics are specific strains of beneficial bacteria that can also help assist in improving or maintaining optimal gut health by influencing your own gut microbiota.

9) To find out what nutrients you need and if you are experiencing IBS like symptoms speak to Julia’s herbal Health. GOOD HEALTH STARTS IN THE GUT.