The gut is the place where food is digested, metabolized, and absorbed to be delivered into the cells and provide the body with energy. The gut contains billions of live bacteria. In fact, it’s estimated that there are 35,000 different strains of bacteria in the gut. 80 percent of your immune system is in your microbiome, which helps your body with just about every process, including helping you think clearly and maintain a healthy weight.

Here are some suggestions for improving your gut health:

 

Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and anti-inflammatory foods. When you regularly eat a variety of healthy, non-processed foods, your microbiome becomes programmed to work for you. The more varied your diet, the more flexible your microbiome becomes and the less at-risk you are for developing food sensitivities and other chronic health conditions.

 

Add fiber to your diet. It’s recommended that women eat 25 grams of fiber per day and men 35 grams. Fiber helps keep bowel movements regular, but also helps lower cholesterol and keep blood sugar levels stable. Some high-fiber foods include whole-wheat pasta, quinoa, oatmeal, beans, lentils, peas, broccoli, pears, apples (with skins), and berries.

 

Include fermented foods in your diet. They help introduce good bacteria into your gut microbiome and can lower your intestine’s pH level. Not all fermented food is created equal. To ensure the fermented foods you choose contain probiotics, look for the words “naturally fermented” on the label, and when you open the jar look for bubbles in the liquid, which signal that live organisms are inside. These foods naturally provide us with probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that mostly live within our gut. Some examples include: Kimchi, Kefir, Kombucha, Miso Pickles, Sauerkraut, and Low-fat yogurt. Dairy-free yogurts made from almond, soy, coconut, or rice milk are easier for some people to digest.

 

To learn more about gut health and the Renew program go to smhrenew.com an apply today for the next session starting March 17,2025