Gut Health 101
Have you ever heard the phrase, “go with your gut”? Well, turns out, it’s not a bad motto to live by.
Our gastrointestinal tract, or gut, as it’s commonly known, contains its very own system of microorganisms and bacterias that help us maintain homeostasis. While there are millions of microorganisms and bacterias in our guts, it is important for us to understand which are beneficial and which are detrimental to our health.
Unlocking the secrets of how to maintain a healthy gut will ultimately unlock how to maintain the healthiest lifestyle. But how can you tell if your gut is happy and healthy?
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Gut
Every individual has a unique microbiome containing microbes, bacterias, fungi, and viruses within their guts. And while this might sound like a bad thing at first glance, these bacterias, fungi, and the like are all a part of a complex process that keeps our bodies healthy and thriving. In fact, they are essential in maintaining a balanced and diverse gut - and the healthiest guts are the most diverse!
Now, I’m sure you may guess that on the other hand, an unhealthy gut does not see much diversity in it’s microbiome. And you would be right, this non-diversity can be seen when an individual over consumes processed foods, which are a great contributor to an unhealthy gut.
Maintaining a healthy and diverse gut starts with a healthy stomach and intestines. And like we always say at the Clean Living Company, what you put into your body has a direct relationship with how you feel.
What Can Be Affected by Gut Health?
Well, to put it simply - everything. Yes, you heard us right, the state of your gut affects all other aspects of your health including your mood, sleep, skin, and so on. Taking care of your gut doesn’t just mean digestion and weight. In fact, an unhealthy gut has been proven to be the cause of a number of other health issues - mental and physical.
An unhealthy gut can result in
- A poor immune system
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Irritable Bowel Disorder (IBD)
- Heartburn & Acid Reflux
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Reduced Energy
- Anxiety & Depression
...just to name a few.
These examples are the tip of the iceberg as our gut health is related to almost all aspects of our physical and mental health. These various health issues are not solely based on the environment in our gut, but the studies have proven there is some effect which is seen in the complexities of our intestinal tract.
Gut Friendly Foods
The first step to maintaining a healthy gut: food first (yes, you really are what you eat!) The most recommended tips for eating healthy still apply - go for whole foods, whole grains, lean meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. But, you can also add some extra goodies to your diet that will jump start a healthy gut…
Probiotics and prebiotics are great sources of healthy bacteria that your gut needs. Probiotics are the actual good bacteria found in your gut, they aid in the digestion process, and prebiotics are what feed the healthy bacteria. Check out our list of great natural probiotics and prebiotics below:
Probiotics
- Kimchi
- Pickles
- Sauerkraut
- Miso
- Kefir
- Kombucha
- Live Yogurt
Prebiotics
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Onion
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Green Bananas
Going the Extra Mile With A Healthy Lifestyle
While our diet is the biggest factor that determines the state of our gut (and in turn, overall health), there are other lifestyle factors to be mindful of when wanting to make a difference in your health.
1. Sleep. Amount of sleep can be a factor in our gut health. If an individual has an erratic or irregular sleep pattern, their digestion can be completely thrown off resulting in imbalances. For adults, the ideal amount of sleep is about 7-9 hours to keep consistency and energy levels at their peak.
2. Exercise. Keeping active can promote weight loss and reduce our stress levels. With excess stress, comes excess health problems. A healthy weight and healthy amount of stress are ideal when striving for any person aiming for a healthier and clean lifestyle.
3. Avoid Antibiotics unless necessary. Do not take antibiotics unless needed. Antibiotics can kill both the bad and good bacteria in your gut. If you are fighting a cold or virus, not only will taking antibiotics not help, but it may also be detrimental to your gut.
4. Reducing unhealthy habits. For example, smoking cigarettes and binge drinking. Your intestinal tract is a large part of your body that affects many aspects of your health, so enforcing common sense health practices should always be maintained.
How We Can Help Make Your Gut Happy
At the Clean Living Company, our #1 priority is helping our customers achieve overall wellness starting at the gut. That’s why we’ve created a line of premium, FMCHC-approved products to help you look and FEEL your absolute best. Here’s what we offer to help you achieve your wellness goals:
1. Bone Broth
We can't talk about gut health without talking about Bone Broth.
When being made, our Organic Bone Broth becomes infused with a variety of rich proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are excellent for our health. These essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals introduced during the simmering process are soluble, meaning they easily dissolve in water and your body doesn’t have to work too hard to absorb the nutrients. That’s what makes bone broth great- It provides all the goodness while taking it easy on the system.
Bone Broth is the absolute best thing you can do for your gut. It reduces inflammation in the intestinal tract and it is one of the easiest ways for a weak or damaged gut to absorb vitamins and minerals. If you are striving for a healthy gut, bone broth and collagen are the best places to start.
In fact, we are the only company to offer collagen in its most natural form (bone broth), as well as a supplement.
2. Collagen
Collagen provides structure to the body, and is very important to the digestion process due to its rich amino acid profile. It can help rebuild damaged stomach lining, and due to its hydrophilic nature - it loves water, which aids greatly in the digestion process. Supplementing your body with collagen can also help regulate stomach acid secretion, heal stomach ulcers.
Hydrolysed type I & III Bovine Collagen peptides are the most effective type of collagen for the gut. You can easily implement this into your diet with our Keto Collagen Powders. Learn more about what makes our Keto Collagen Powder different here.
3. Health Coaching
Everything we do starts at the base of a Functional Medicine perspective. We believe that the concept of wellness looks different for every individual, and through our functional medicine coaching, we can help you design a personalised wellness protocol catered specifically for you and your needs. If you're seeking assistance in making an impactful difference in your health, sign up for a consultation with our Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach.
Are you ready to amp up your wellness journey? You can join our private Facebook Group or sign up for our newsletter for more tips on how to keep your gut happy.
