The topic of gut health has become more and more popular in recent years and for good reason: a healthy gut is more than just a vehicle for food to pass through our bodies. It houses hundreds of types of bacteria that have been shown to be beneficial to our physical health, immune systems, mental health, mood, and much more.
But what if your gut isn’t so healthy? What if you notice that you experience some unpleasantness in your mid-section, like an upset stomach, or, skin conditions, constant fatigue or sleep interruptions, and food intolerances? What if you have bloating, nausea, and abdominal pains? These are possible signs that you need to work on your gut health, and, here are five ways that you can do so:
Increase Consumption of High Antioxidant Vegetables
Experts agree that consuming vegetables high in antioxidants is key to positive gut health. In particular, green, leafy vegetables such as kale, swiss chard, and spinach, are full of fiber and vitamins that can help provide your gut with good bacteria and, for lack of a better term, keep things moving. If you love these veggies but also want to add some greens to your diet in a different way, you can try adding a supplement to your diet, such as Hann’s Pharmacy Ortho Molecular Greens Powder, which you simply mix with water and drink daily or as recommended by your health care professional. Please note that if you see something is out of stock on our online store, please email us at info@hannspharmacy.com and we can place an order for you.
Stay Hydrated
We all know that staying well hydrated is important for your overall health but did you know how important it is to your gut health? Drinking enough water helps keep the lining of your gut healthy and helps to balance out the good bacteria. The best part? It’s simple!
Take A Probiotic
Adding a probiotic to your diet can significantly help with the health of your gut. Probiotics are live good bacteria that can help keep your gut in shape. We recommend our Hann’s Pharmacy Ortho Molecular Ortho Biotic, which helps maintain gut balance, increases gut immunity, supports digestion, and so much more.
Lower Stress & Get More Sleep
While easier said than done, especially after adjusting to life during a global pandemic, lowering your overall stress plus getting more sleep have both been shown to increase gut health. Lower your stress through natural methods including getting outside in the sunshine for a walk and some Vitamin D, decreasing your caffeine and alcohol consumption, taking yoga classes, or adopting a pet. We could all use more sleep – consider meditation, a change in your sleep environment, a weighted blanket, or journaling before you turn off the lights.
Change Your Overall Diet
If your gut is telling you something is off, one of the best ways to change it is to take a long, hard look at your diet. Do you eat processed food high in sugar and fat? These unhealthy foods can take a toll not only on your weight but on your gut. Stick to plenty of plant-based foods and lean proteins as well as food that’s high in fiber — easiest way to do this? Shop on the perimeter of your grocery store and stay away from the aisles.
These five recommendations are just some of the many ways you can improve your gut health. If you have questions about these or the products we have shared, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our pharmacists at Hann’s Pharmacy, info@hannspharmacy.com