7 things you can do for your gut health
You may be able to improve your gut health through lifestyle and diet changes. Consider trying one or more of the following:
1. Lower your stress levels
Chronic high levels of stress are hard on your whole body, including your gut. A few ways to lower stress may include:
meditating
walking
getting a massage
spending time with friends or family
diffusing essential oils
limiting alcohol intake
laughing
practicing yoga
spending time with a pet
2. Get enough sleep
Not getting enough or sufficient quality of sleep may have serious impacts on your gut health, which can in turn contribute to more sleep issues.
Try to prioritize getting at least 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Your doctor may be able to help if you have trouble sleeping.
3. Eat slowly
Chewing your food thoroughly and eating your meals more slowly may lower your chances of developing obesity and diabetes while also helping you make better food choices.
This may help you reduce digestive discomfort and maintain a healthy gut.
4. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water may be linked to increased diversity of bacteria in the gut, though the source of the water also matters. One 2022 study from a Trusted Source also found that people who drank more water had less of a type of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal infections.
Staying hydrated benefits your health overall and can help prevent constipation. It may also be a simple way to promote a healthy gut.
5. Take a prebiotic or probiotic
While researchTrusted Source is ongoing, adding a prebiotic or probiotic supplement to your diet may help improve your gut health. Prebiotics provide “food” meant to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while probiotics are live good bacteria.
People who have a severe illness or weakened immune system should not take probiotics. Also, not all probiotic supplements are high quality or beneficial for your health.
It’s best to speak with a healthcare professional when choosing a probiotic or prebiotic supplement to help improve your health.
You can shop for a probiotic or prebiotic supplement (CLICK HERE).
6. Check for food intolerances
You may have a food intolerance if you have symptoms such as:
bloating
abdominal pain
diarrhea
gas
nausea
fatigue
acid reflux
You can try eliminating common trigger foods to see if your symptoms improve. If you’re able to identify and avoid a food or foods that are contributing to your symptoms, you may see a positive change in your digestive health.
7. Change your diet
Reducing the amount of processed, high sugar, and high trans fat foods that you eat may lead to better gut health. (See - Proper Human Diet)