5 Essential Gut Health Strategies from a Functional Medicine Practitioner

I consider the gut ‘command central.’ The bulk of our immune system is in lymphatic tissue that lines our digestive system.  The majority of neurotransmitters, like serotonin, the anti-depressant neurotransmitter and GABA, the anti-anxiety neurotransmitter, are made in the gut.  The gut is also involved in the detoxification of substances including hormones.  This makes gut health a critical foundation for overall well-being.

Here are five user-friendly recommendations to help support your gut health:

• Eat a diet rich in prebiotic foods like garlic, onions, and apples.  Prebiotic-rich foods support the growth of good bacteria in the gut.  Adequate good bacteria ensure a strong immune system and effective detoxification. 

• Incorporate digestive bitters into your lifestyle.  Digestive bitters stimulate hydrochloric acid production which is essential for optimal digestion. Plus, digestive bitters in sparkling water are delicious and make for an easy mocktail!

• Science still lands on the Mediterranean diet as being the best over-all go-to way of eating for most people.  Eat a lot of vegetables, protein, complex carbohydrates, nuts, seeds, beans and a little bit of the other stuff.

• Eat the rainbow and follow the seasons.  By this I mean eat a variety of foods that are a variety of colors and consider the time of year when food is in season where you live.  If you’re not sure how to execute this, visit a local farmers market.  

• You can improve the diversity of your microbiome, meaning you can improve your health, in two days by changing your diet!

Gut health is necessary for our health and wellness.  It’s impossible to have one without the other!!!  I encourage you to explore these strategies and take note of how your health is impacted. 

For a deeper dive into the subject of gut health, I recommend reading Digestive Wellness by Liz Lipski.  You’ll never look at health the same again.