When we use the term Gut Health, we refer to the wellness of the entire digestive system aka the GI (gastrointestinal) tract that comprises several organs including the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small & large intestines and the rectum and organs like the pancreas, liver and gallbladder.
This environment is a host to about 100 trillion living microorganisms that belong to about 500+ bacterial species, collectively the “gut microbiome”. These are in some incredibly choreographed balance, yet not nearly understood that affect our immune system, our metabolism, GI functions & more.
The greatest influence on this balance is our food choice and other chemicals we ingest. Highly processed & acidic foods and certain medications can trigger a false alarm, increasing pathogens and a needless immune response that could result in a “leaky gut” and potentially in several autoimmune disorders.
Prebiotics, probiotics and fermented foods are crucial to keep these trillion creatures well fed.
Prebiotics are plant fibers our bodies can’t digest but they serve as food for our gut bacteria. Lentils, whole grains, several vegetables, nuts all have several examples of these fibers, particularly those with complex carbs.
Probiotics are living organisms that increase the population of good gut bacteria. Fermented foods like yoghurt, buttermilk, kimchi, miso, tempeh, sourdough, idli, dosas are all good examples of. But remember to feed them with fiber! |
Tags: Gut Health, fruits, food IQ, fiber 
