7 Foods That Are Crucial for a Healthy Gut

There's more to a healthy stomach than a flat belly!

Your gut is like a forest, full of diverse life that, if kept in check, helps your whole natural system flourish. The problem is, food isn’t as simple as it used to be, and modern cuisine—even modern medicine like antibiotics—can do a real number on the biodiversity in your digestive tract and your beneficial bacteria. In fact, too many med's and eating too much sugar and processed foods can actually suppress this protective gastrointestinal army, so it’s important to bring balance and stability back to your gut for optimal health to avoid diarrhoea and diseases.

Kefir

Kind of like a drinkable yoghurt, kefir is a fermented dairy product that contains oligosaccharides—complex carbs that feed beneficial bacteria. Keeping those tiny microorganisms happy and will help supercharge your immune system.

Greek Yoghurt

Like kefir, Greek yoghurt also serves as a potent dairy-based pro-biotic, and also boasts 15 to 20 grams of protein per 6-ounce serving. It also has amino acids that will jump-start your metabolism.

For true Greek yoghurt, check the ingredient list. It should only read: milk and cultures.

Sauerkraut

The benefit: Sauerkraut is really fermented cabbage—a preservation technique that far precedes modern-day refrigeration.

For true probiotic muscle, avoid canned sauerkraut. That type is usually pasteurized, which means the healthy bacteria is mostly killed off. Instead, make your own in a crockpot. 

Kimchi

 A standby for centuries in Korean culture, this spicy fermented cabbage dish acts like a tonic for your gastrointestinal tract. A 2005 Seoul National University study found it’s so beneficial to the immune system that it helped speed recovery in chickens stricken with the virulent avian flu.

Add kimchi to organic mashed potatoes, rice, or salads if the distinctly sour fare isn’t appetizing to you on its own.

Artichokes

Artichokes are potent prebiotics, meaning they contain indigestible nutrients that help feed the beneficial bacteria growth within your digestive system. Think of them like a healthy meal for the helpful bacteria in your gut.

If artichokes don’t delight your taste buds, try other potent prebiotics like bananas, lentils, and asparagus.

Kombucha

With its naturally fizzy profile, this fermented tea serves as a healthy replacement for carbonated drinks like soda. Mildly tart and effervescent, kombucha is teeming with beneficial bacteria to coat your digestive tract. The fermentation process also creates healthy B vitamins that can activate energy.

This ancient, nourishing tonic has boosted immune systems for centuries; however, if you have certain digestive-tract diseases, kombucha may aggravate symptoms because it’s considered a wild ferment and could contain irritating yeasts for susceptible individuals.

Miso Soup

While there's debate surrounding the health benefits of soy, the truth is fermented soy beans contain an abundance of beneficial bacteria and isoflavones, which can protect against cancer and possibly halt the production of fat cells.

Look for organic miso soup to avoid harmful additives and genetically engineered soy, which has never been tested for long-term impact on human health.

Source Article