We’re three weeks into 2019, which is usually the time we start deterring from our big New Year’s resolutions. Why does this happen? Maybe because we choose health goals that don’t really align with our lifestyle, or we don’t see the big why behind them. Eating healthy, for example, is a big one for many people. If you’ve gotten used to ordering takeout or stopping for fast food at lunch, then eating primarily vegetables in 2019 will be hard to stick to.
Give a little love to your gut. Ask yourself why you want to eat healthier? Maybe you over-indulged during the holidays or you can’t figure out why you are feeling sluggish. If your “why” is to lose weight, to have more energy, or to improve your overall vitality, then join us for Rowdy’s collective “why” and improve your gut health!
Happy Gut, Right on!
To improve your gut health we first need to understand the gut-brain connection. Your gut is like your second brain. It can operate on its own and communicates back and forth with your command center, your actual brain. Your gut and brain are connected physically and chemically. But these connections are sometimes disrupted by “gut microbiomes.” Keep your “gut microbiomes” regulated to decrease diseases such as anxiety, depression, autism, and Parkinson’s disease.
So how do we improve your gut health? With food of course!
Every awesome undertaking starts with a clean slate. For your gut health revolution, start by cleaning out that pantry. Toss refined foods, processed foods (or donate them if they are unopened!). This is the year of aligning your health goals with your life.
It’s that time of year. The time to go fill your pantry up, but what do you look for (so you don’t make the same mistakes as last year!)? Here are 4 natural gut health solutions that will get your gut back in shape:
1. Increase Probiotic-Enhanced Food Consumption
Probiotics are beneficial good gut bugs. They are known to deliver healthy bacteria to your body, and this can work to your advantage. These good gut bugs help improve digestion, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even promote heart health.
Probiotics are found in fermented foods, such as:
- Sauerkraut
- Kefir
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
- Koleslaw
Here are some of our favorite ways to use Probiotics:
- Add some sauerkraut to burgers, salads, a buddha bowl
- Drink kombucha throughout the day (instead of that third cup of coffee)
- Add kefir or probiotic yogurt to smoothies
If your want to keep your health in balance, don’t forget your daily dose of probiotics to stay healthy and fit longer.
2. Increase High Fiber Or Whole-Grain Consumption
Fiber helps to ward off disease, prevent type 2 diabetes, regulate the system to prevent food allergies, and even helps prevent joint pain. How does this happen? Fiber feeds your good gut bacteria, which allows them to live, breed and thrive. The more good microbes in your system means more stomach mucus, which reduces inflammation and aids in digestion. In fact, a higher volume of fermentable fiber insulin protects your body against metabolic syndrome.
When it comes to maintaining your microbiome, nothing is more important that what you eat and drink. Taking fiber supplements may not be enough to keep your good gut bugs happy. You also need to eat several different types of fiber, allowing your microbiome to change with the seasons (seasonal foods) and even by the week. Keeping your microbiome on its toes (in a healthy way) helps it work optimally.
Don’t forget to add prebiotics to your diet. Prebiotics are an important form of fiber that work directly with probiotics to optimize your microbiome. Prebiotics are found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, and yacon root. We use yacon root to sweeten our Rowdy bars to help improve gut health.
Here are some of our favorite ways we like to include fiber into our diet:
- Add chia seeds to any smoothie
- Boil an artichoke
- Have oatmeal for breakfast
3. Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Did you know that 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system? That goes to show that healthy food and fruits help boost your gut health. The more fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber you consume, the more your gut health will improve. Your gut not only likes to boost your health, it also likes a good cleanse once and awhile. Flush your gut with bitter greens and vitamin K that are full of detoxifiers and fiber.
When trying to boost your gut health, stick to in-season fruits and vegetables. Not only will your produce be tastier and less expensive when in season, but it also ensures you’re getting a diverse range of fibers and nutrients. You gut loves high-quality diversity.
Here are some of our favorite ways to use fruits and vegetables:
- Big salads
- Add greens to sandwiches, burritos and burgers
- Put a dash of greens to your favorite smoothie
4. Increase Collagen Consumption
You’ve heard all about collagen and its benefits, but did you know it’s also great for gut health? Collagen helps build the lining of your gut and is great for boosting the luster and strength of hair, skin, and nails. It makes up 25-35% of your bodies natural protein content, which includes your gut. Collagen is present in bones and cartilage and can be consumed through meat and bone broth. Modern foods today are no longer a good source of collagen. Taking Collagen Peptide supplements not only supports your cells by providing your body with ingestible collagen, it also contains amino acids that are beneficial for keeping your gut health happy.
Here’s our favorite ways to consume more collagen
- Eat a steak made with grass fed beef
- Add beef bone broth to your favorite soup
- Collagen powders in EVERYTHING (coffee, smoothies, etc.)
Gut Health Rocks!
Feed the good gut bacteria what they love: prebiotics. Rowdy bars are a good source of prebiotics that both your gut and the good bacteria love.