Your gut does more than digest the food that you consume, it influences your mood, energy, immunity, and overall wellbeing…. writes Naturopathic Nutritionist Erica.
Gut Health matters
That’s why gut health matters, and living in the South of France with so many local farm markets makes it easier to take care of your gut health:
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that impact digestion, immune strength, and even mental clarity.
A healthy gut can prevent issues like:
- Bloating, gas, or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
- Skin problems (eczema, redness, breakouts, acne)
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Chronic inflammation or hormonal imbalances
Signs your gut needs care:
- Irregular bowel movements (ideal is going at least once a day)
- Bloating or digestive discomfort
- Low energy or poor stress response
- Breakouts or irritated skin
What you eat matters
Processed foods, trans fats, and refined grains negatively impact our gut bacteria and can lead to inflammation. This is where whole, natural foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish have such an important role in fuelling your gut with the nutrients it craves and needs to maintain a beneficial inner body balance.
Tip: Try eating 20-30 different plants a week for a healthier, more diverse gut microbiome! 20-30 is not as hard as it looks… plants come in many different forms! This includes beans, vegetables, nuts & seeds, and wholegrains such as quinoa and buckwheat.
Lifestyle
How you live your life matters as much as how you eat. Stress has a direct impact on your gut. Practices like mindfulness, yoga, and deep breathing can strengthen the gut-brain connection, improving digestion and reducing stress.
Minimise alcohol and over-usage of antibiotics, which can disrupt your gut microflora balance (this is the balance between the number or ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria found in the gut).
Supplements
While food and lifestyle are key, supplements can help support your gut. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. This is where a 1:1 personalised consultation is a great way of discovering what is needed for your individual needs.
The biggest impact on our gut is what we put into our body; then comes the lifestyle factors to cope with the stress. Not even the ‘perfect food’ is totally perfect due to our environment and food quality, so in addition, it can be useful to compliment with supplements.
Here I have listed some key supplements that can be useful for your gut health:
- Lactobacillus Bifidus
- Curcumin (turmeric)
- Slippery elm
- Psyllium husk, linseed
- Magnesium glycinate and citrate
- Quercetin
- Shiitake mushrooms
- L-glutamin
- Herbal teas
- Bone broth
- Omega-3 fatty acids
Do remember that the type of supplement, and how much you take, is highly individual and depends on so many factors.
Your gut is one of the most important key factors. Nourish it, and you’ll feel the difference in every aspect of your life.
Health disclaimer: I do not claim to diagnose, cure or treat diseases, symptoms or illnesses. The information and service provided through the platform/consultations are here to provide individuals with an alternative holistic method if you choose to make changes in this direction. Please contact your medical practitioner if you have any medical issues.
Follow Erica on Instagram here.
Read more posts from Erica on Wondergreens website here.
Sources for further reading:
- https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/2/145
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/7/1/17
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1096719299928573
- https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/61/1/16
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/11/1211
