Daily Habits That Harm Your Gut And Tips To Improve Your Gut Health

Our elders often say that eating for good gut health is pivotal to a healthy life. As ancient as the saying may be, it still holds true – gut health is vital in determining our overall health.

Everyone looks forward to adopting newer and healthier practises during the New Year. We present to you #BeAQuitter, a 15-day program till 19th January 2024, specially curated to help you create a healthier and happier new year for yourself. Learn from experienced mental health, fitness, and nutrition experts how to quit unhealthy habits and adopt a healthy lifestyle in the New Year. In this blog, nutrition expert Rahul Meghnani will guide you on how to quit habits that are bad for your gut.

What you need to know:

Understand habits that are bad for gut health
Why bad gut health habits should not be ignored?
How to avoid bad gut health habits?
Tips to improve gut health naturally

Understand habits that are bad for gut health

Microorganisms called gut microbiomes live in our intestines. Different species of fungi, bacteria and viruses line our digestive tract. Most of these microbiomes are beneficial for the gut and the body and are even responsible for reducing the risk of psoriatic arthritis, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Poor lifestyle and food habits, unmanaged stress, sugary foods and sleep deprivation can make the gut unhealthy by affecting these microbiomes. A healthy gut shows a healthy balance of microbes and bacteria in our gut and digestive tract, which improves digestion and mood, makes our heart and brain healthier, and builds stronger immunity.

Why bad gut health habits should not be ignored?

Good gut health habits are responsible for maintaining an overall healthy body. These habits are linked to maintaining a healthy immune system, fighting autoimmune diseases, shielding against endocrine and gastrointestinal disorders, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and helping maintain good mental health. Neglecting good gut health habits can leave us susceptible to severe chronic diseases like obesity and inflammatory bowel disease.

How to avoid bad gut health habits?

Knowing the pivotal role of good gut health in our lives is fundamental. Here’s how you can avoid bad gut health:

Identify and eliminate harmful practises

Gut health can be severely compromised due to a stressful and unhealthy lifestyle, poor sleeping habits and vices like smoking and alcohol. Identifying and eliminating these practises is crucial for a healthy gut.

Developing a gut-friendly diet

Our gut health is primarily affected by our food choices. Eating a balanced, nutritional diet is essential for good gut health. Sugary foods, too many bad carbs and cholesterol-rich foods severely deteriorate our gut health.

Incorporate probiotics for gut health

Good microorganisms in our gut create a conducive environment for a good gut. Probiotics such as yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, sauerkraut, kanji, kombucha, etc., provide the body with these microorganisms to improve our gut health. They are usually highly fibrous foods and provide bacteria that can kill disease-causing cells and produce vitamins.

Tips to improve gut health naturally

You don’t have to fight a battle to improve gut health naturally. Try these simple steps, and you can see the results:

Add fiber to your diet

Fibrous foods can reduce the risk of metabolic diseases. Avoid high-carb and sugary foods and replace them with fibrous options like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Carrots, spinach, beets, yogurt and sweet potatoes have gut-enhancing fibers.

Reduce stress for a healthy gut

Stress has a massive impact on gut health. Among the many neurons and nerves that connect the gut and the brain, the vagus nerve primarily influences your cognitive and digestive health. Reducing stress can reduce the possibility of depression and anxiety as well as irritable bowel syndrome. Managing stress can also reduce problems related to the gastrointestinal system.

Understand the role of sleep in improving gut health

Sleep has a role in maintaining all aspects of our body healthy, even the gut. Insufficient or poor sleep can lead to poor gut health. Quality, uninterrupted sleep is a must for good gut health. A healthy gut is critical to a healthy mind and body. Be mindful of your choices and changes in your body regarding your gut. Seek immediate help to prevent severe consequences later.

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Sam Andrews says:

February 23, 2024 at 7:53 am

Before my cousin reaches out to a healthcare expert, can I show her this article? She’s been complaining about the occasional diarrhea she got last week. It’s a good thing you recommended we consume probiotics to ensure a healthy gut.