You really should be familiar with the term “gut flora” because that’s the community of microorganisms settled in your digestive tract. The gut microbiota has the most bacteria and the most varied number of species of bacteria compared to any other part of the body (in humans). We can have an imbalance in our gut bacteria depending on some factors, and that condition is called dysbacteriosis.
When bad bacteria moves in and takes over, the intestinal tract becomes very susceptible to damage. That’s why we need the healthy bacteria- to keep the intestinal lining strong.
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These are some of the reasons why healthy gut bacteria are crucial:
WEIGHT LOSS:
Gut bacteria and weight loss are related and according to a study, too much of bacteria in our gut may cause unhealthy cravings, leading to weight gain. Hormones can be controlled by bacteria which can manipulate us into making poor food choices.
ALLERGIES:
Canadian researchers noted that it is possible to predict whether infants will develop food allergies just by looking at their gut bacteria.
ANXIETY:
Eating a diet rich in fermented foods is linked with less social anxiety in people who are considered neurotic.
5 WAYS TO IMPROVE GUT FLORA
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Be Done With Sugar
A diet rich in sugar caused changes to the gut bacteria of mice during a study conducted by Oregon State University. Clearly, refined sugar is like fuel for bad gut bacteria and that change had a negative impact on the mice’s long-term and short-term memory. Moreover, the mice developed “cognitive flexibility”.
Foods containing a single molecule of glucose and fructose are easily digested and absorbed into the small intestine without any help from the bacteria which disrupts gut flora. Therefore, the bacteria start to munch on the mucous lining of our intestines and particles of food enter the bloodstream. This causes inflammation and consequently many serious health conditions.
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Eat More Veggies
Eat more vegetables because that’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to change your gut bacteria. Especially green leafy vegetables are great for the gut bacteria. A diet rich in vegetables leads to clearer thinking and overall health and wellness because it helps to build a diverse microbiome.
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Eat Fermented Foods
Fermented foods are the absolute best type of probiotic you can feed your gut because they provide a very broad combination of bacteria. In your diet, you must include foods like kefir, pickles, kombucha tea, and sauerkraut.
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Sleep Well
Your gut could be out of balance if you are not sleeping well. Balancing gut bacteria is critical for a good night’s sleep and when we don’t sleep, we don’t balance our gut, said Dr. David Perlmutter.
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Sweat
Exercise is especially great for your gut flora and many studies have shown that athletes have far more diverse microbiomes that the average person. In fact, exercise does change the gut microbiota. Your gut will thank you if you add a good workout daily to your healthy living regime.