Gut health is something that’s on everybody’s mind. Whether you look at a piece of pizza and just wish you could enjoy it without experiencing tummy pains, or dream about having more energy to do the things you want to do, our gut health is truly a make-or-break factor in life.
If you’ve been suffering from gut health problems, keep on reading this blog.
Luke Clarke – Melbourne’s leading naturopath and functional medicine practitioner – explains the basic ways to improve your gut health so you can enjoy life without constant fear of tummy aches, cramps or digestive issues:
What is a healthy gut or microbiome?
Having a ‘healthy’ gut or microbiome can mean lots of different things to different people. However, there’s a general agreement on what’s considered ideal for gut health, and what’s considered bad for it.
There are around 200 different species of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in your large intestine. The bacteria and other micro-organisms in your gut are known as your gut microbiome. The bacteria help to break down food, turning it into nutrients your body can use. While some bacteria are bad for your gut health and contribute to diseases, others are beneficial and help you maintain a healthy gut.
The basic idea of good gut health is to increase the amount of good bacteria in the gut, and minimise the bad bacteria.
How to improve your gut health
So how do we increase the good bacteria living in our large intestine while minimising the bad? Here are some proven ways:
- Eat enough fibre
High-fibre foods help our gut absorb nutrients, which leads to a healthier and more functional intestine. It also determines how quickly or slowly things pass through our intestines, and the quality of our stool. Foods with high-fibre include fruits and vegetables, legumes, beans, bread, and nuts and seeds. - Eat less processed foods
Processed foods are proven to contribute little to our gut health, and can even be detrimental to it. Many people who eat high amounts of processed foods experience gut health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Limit your processed foods intake and replace them with high-fibre foods. - Schedule an appointment with a naturopath
If you want an in-depth, professional analysis of what’s going on with your gut health, a naturopath can help you. We conduct a series of tests to identify problems with your gut health, allowing you to make natural dietary improvements.
Luke Clarke has helped many people in your position to improve their gut health. A practitioner of functional medicine and naturopath in Melbourne, Luke helps patients overcome individual health challenges through natural methods. Combining science and naturopathic philosophies, Luke Clarke cares about your health and works alongside you to improve it. Contact Luke Clarke for a 10-minute free consultation today.