LGR Holistic Wellness

The gut microbiota is a collective term for the trillions of microbes that inhabit the human gut. Of course, other microbes can also be found in different parts of the body such as the skin, nose, and ears, facilitating many vital roles in keeping the body healthy.

Of the estimated 10,000 plus different species that make up the gut microbiota, they are broadly classed as being either good or bad. Interestingly, what makes a microorganism ‘bad’ is how many of them exist in our gut. In controlled numbers, they are benign or beneficial, but when they are excessive they become dangerous to our health.

What our body needs for good health is balanced ratios, whereas an overgrowth of particular microorganisms can ultimately lead to the development of disease.
Our gut microbiome helps to keep our body in homeostasis, which is the optimal balance. Homeostasis keeps infections at bay and an imbalance makes us prone to becoming sick.

A major factor that influences the quality of our gut health is our diet. What we eat consistently will influence the composition, metabolic activity, and biodiversity of our gut microbiome. Consequently, this impacts our health in a major way.

Similar to diet, certain lifestyle factors and environmental influences potentially modulate the composition of our gut microbiota. High stress levels and a lack of exercise evidently both contribute to the decline of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Here are some of the things you can do to improve your gut microbiome.

Improve Your Diet

As we said above, a healthy diet is important for a healthy gut. A healthy gut equals a diverse gut microbiome, and the gut microbiota’s composition and biodiversity can be enhanced and re-balanced through proper nutrition. Eating a wide range of healthy foods creates a more diverse microbiome. A diverse gut microbiota is healthy because if there are more species of bacteria in your gut, they provide greater protection against diseases and infections.

These foods provide the best sources of nutrients that will create a healthier gut microbiome – vegetables, fruits, and fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, and yogurt, among others. Fermented foods are rich in beneficial bacteria that support gut health.

• Prebiotics

Prebiotics are mainly complex carbs or fiber that the body cannot digest but are a great source of nutrients for the good microorganisms in the gut. They are broken down by the microbiota and are used as fuel. Prebiotics promotes the growth of healthy bacteria, making them highly beneficial for good health.

• Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria or microorganisms that support gut health. Taking probiotics or eating probiotic-rich foods improves certain gut bacteria. They support our health by mainly modulating the gut microbiome’s composition. Probiotic-rich foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods.

Manage Your Stress

Lifestyle is another crucial factor that affects the gut microbiota’s composition.
Not only is chronic stress harsh on the body’s overall health, but it can dramatically affect and impair the gut’s proper functioning, contributing to digestive conditions.

There are many ways to alleviate stress. Some of these activities are meditation, yoga, laughter, listening to music, spending time with friends and family, getting massages, taking a vacation, a new hobby, and many more. Find the ones that destress you!

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle and similarly affects gut health. Getting enough sleep every night and achieving at least 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep also helps ensure that your body gets enough downtime to facilitate self-repair. Having enough rest is key to managing stress too.

Drink Plenty of Water

Getting enough hydration is essential for the gut. Water benefits the mucosal lining. In addition to that, it also promotes the balance of healthy microorganisms in the gut and supports their growth.

Eat Mindfully and Slowly

When we eat slowly, it ensures proper digestion. Nutrients from the food we eat are then absorbed by the body properly, reducing stomach or digestive problems. Eating too fast causes many stomach and digestive issues, so slow down and be mindful every time you eat. It is one of the simplest ways to support and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

In Summary

Fortunately, the composition of our gut microbiome can be improved from its current state, providing a path to influencing better health and more vitality.
You can start improving your gut microbiome today. Are you ready? If so, your gut and total body’s wellness will improve for the better!