5 Important Tips to Follow for a Happy and Healthy Gut

They say that you are what you eat. While that’s not technically correct, what you eat has a significant effect on your body and how you feel in your skin. That’s why there’s a growing interest in gastrointestinal health, as it’s closely related to your overall physical and mental well-being. In other words, having a happy, bacteria-balanced gut is key to a better life!

Why Having a Happy Gut Matters

Before we go over how to ensure you have a happy gut, you need to understand why you should strive for it. Our digestive function plays a major role in our wellness because it’s through the proper absorption of the food we eat that we can cater to our immune system and gain the energy we need to sustain ourselves. When there’s an imbalance in the types and amount of bacteria we have in the gut, things go sideways.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right into the five key tips you need to follow to have a balanced and healthy gut:

Drink Plenty of Water

You already know that one, but are you following it? Water is the most fundamental need we have, and your gut needs it just as much. Staying hydrated helps your digestive system to stay operative and eliminate toxins in your body. It’s normal that we absorb toxins, but it’s how we expel them from the body that makes all the difference.

Establish a Fiber-Rich Diet

Fiber helps your gut by making all the unnecessary by-products go through your digestive system more efficiently. There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers are found in nuts, oats, bananas, beans, and barley, while you can find insoluble fiber in wholegrain foods, vegetables (e.g., carrots and potatoes), and wheat bran.

Reduce Sugar Intake

You may have a sweet tooth, but your gut doesn’t. In fact, too much sugar in your diet can lead to inflammation. It can also kill all the good bacteria and seriously disbalance your gastrointestinal health. Artificial sweeteners are no better than regular sugar because they, too, can damage your gut microbiome and affect your metabolism.