In honor of April’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, I wanted to review some of my favorite tried and true tips for becoming more aware of your gut health.
My number one recommendation is to keep a “food and feelings” journal so you can remove the offenders from your daily life. Typically we don’t realize how much we are taking in from the “bad list”. Things like white bread, flour, sugar and (really any food we don’t recognize) like processed foods with little to no nutritional value. I recommend writing it all down with an open mind.
The following week, go back and scratch out the bad and replace it with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, and grains that are known to be less offensive to our gut (think quinoa, amaranth, and other versions found in the organic section of your grocery store.) Don’t forget to add in healthy fats from avocados, flax, almonds, and raw coconut or use raw nut butters.
A health advocate (like me) can help you learn more about healthy fats and less-offensive grains.
Another major step in creating a healthy gut is to maintain healthy hydration. Work hard to make water an important part of your daily routine. Think morning, noon, night and with every meal and snack. A hydrated gut always tends to be healthier.
We do recommend a good natural probiotic or educating yourself in natural ways to create your own by using sauerkraut, kimchi or kefir. There are a lot of good sources online to learn about the gut benefits of certain foods.
Because stress is a huge culprit in the way our gut feels on a daily basis, it’s always a good idea to practice meditation, exercise, and to get the right amount of rest. We don’t always realize the impact of stress on our bodies, but for many of us the gut is the first place we feel it. I always recommend that people also use their journal to write about their feelings, how they slept, and how often they prayed or meditated when trying to get a handle on their gut health. In fact, the gut is now being called the second brain by many health professionals. The tie between our gut and our brain is so close that many are not sure whether gut problems cause depression, anxiety, and other mental issues or vice versa. In fact – the answer may just be both. If you want to read more about that; this article will get you thinking about just how important it is to address stomach issues – http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_body/the-brain-gut-connection
Essential oils are my passion, so I would be remiss to not mention that essential oils can be supportive to anyone becoming cognizant about their gut health. Our DigestZen and DigestZen Softgels may be worth exploring, and blends like Balance can calm your mind – so your gut can relax. And Frankincense is known world-wide to assist with depression and other focus issues. With the connection now known between our gut and brain, I encourage you to look at the oils you would use to support brain and emotional health as part of your healthy gut routine.
To learn more contact me today.