Keeping your body healthy requires more than simply choosing healthy foods and exercising regularly. The immune system is extremely complex and often complicated, varying from one individual to the next. In our gut alone, anywhere from 300 to 500 types of bacteria can be active at any time. While not all bacteria are considered harmful to your health, it is imperative to keep “bad” bacteria to a minimum to avoid gastrointestinal issues and potentially permanent damage to how your system processes food and nutrients altogether. Understanding the importance of gut bacteria and how to improve your gut’s overall health is key to ensuring a long-lasting, healthy, and productive life.
Remove Processed Foods from Your Everyday Diet
A major problem for millions of individuals who suffer from digestive issues and gut bacteria-related sickness is the increased intake of processed foods. Processed foods are typically more affordable and are easier to prepare for meals or snacks. However, processed foods contain chemicals and ingredients that are not ideal for the immune system or gut microbiome, causing adverse reactions with long-term ingestion. Choosing a diet that is rich in all-natural ingredients and nutrients is a way to minimize or eliminate upset stomachs, diarrhea, bloating, and other gastro-centric problems that are most commonly found in Western diets today.
For individuals who suffer from a myriad of ailments and illnesses (ranging from arthritis, joint pain, and autoimmune), anti-inflammatory diets are ideal and often, necessary for relief. Choosing a diet that is void of processed foods and artificial ingredients it the first step to improving your body’s immune system and digestive tract function altogether. Rather than packaged snacks or treats, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, along with meats that are unprocessed and better for the body. Steer clear of eating processed foods in excess, as this disrupts the inner workings of the body and your digestive system (ultimately impacting the way you absorb nutrients from any food you eat).
Avoid Artificial Alternatives and Low-Fat Foods
Artificial alternatives to traditional whole foods can also trigger negative outcomes within the gut, varying with each individual and their own immune systems. Even switching from classic sugar to “sugar-free” choices may not always be the best option, especially for those who have sensitive guts or other diseases such as a wide range of autoimmune illnesses. Sugar-free foods and solutions also include chemicals and ingredients that are considered foreign to the human body, which may ultimately affect everything from your digestive tract to your bran’s overall cognitive function. Additionally, avoid the hype of “low-fat” foods when you are seeking new ways to eat and want to overhaul and improve your everyday diet. Low-fat foods may seem appealing as they allow consumers to indulge in comfort foods with the promise of a healthier outcome. However, this is not true in most cases, as low-fat products are much more likely to contain additives, preservatives, and even higher sugar or carbohydrate counts.
When shopping around for new foods to add to your diet, familiarize yourself with labels and ingredients. The first ingredients listed on food products are the most prominent within the food. If you are unable to read ingredients or understand what they are, it is very likely that you are looking at additives, preservatives, and chemicals that may ultimately impact your gut health. Actively seek out foods that have clear labels and offer plenty of vitamins and minerals to give your body the support it needs while on your journey to better digestive and gut health.
Use Natural Supplements to Boost Your Gut’s Healthy Bacteria
Probiotics are extremely beneficial to the overall health of our guts, providing a notable dose of “good bacteria” to help combat harmful bacteria while keeping the immune system capable and strong. Without enough good bacteria in the body it becomes challenging and in some cases, impossible for the digestive system to function properly, causing a string of reactions that can drastically negatively impact your life. Finding the right probiotic for your body can drastically improve the quality of life you experience while minimizing digestive issues you may experience.
UltraFlora Balance from Metagenics is one probiotic that delivers a wide range of benefits, including an improved digestive system, boosted cognitive function, and a strengthened immune system. The product itself is non-GMO and contains more than 15 billion live organisms to help facilitate the process of cleaning up your gut and its bad bacteria. UltraFlora Balance includes ingredients such as: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silica. By integrating a probiotic such as UltraFlora Balance in your everyday regimen, greatly improve your cognitive function along with your digestive and gut health for long-term results. Contact Prime Wellness for any questions about improving your gut health today!
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