A Guide To Your Gut Health And Happiness
Since I can remember my Mum always had a batch of kombucha hanging around in our pantry. Back then I didn't think anything of it but now when I smell it.... it was kinda obvious. You know that acidic vinegar odour smell? I never connected the dots when I was younger, I just thought every house or pantry cupboard smelt like that.
If you're not sure what kombucha is, it's a variety of fermented (bacteria and special yeast cultures) organisms, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea drinks (I experiment with raspberry & fruit teas). Kombucha is highly regarded as an aid in the prevention of almost all illness.
A drink rich in B vitamins and probiotic bacteria that helps to heal your gut and build your immunity? My Mum used to make this when I was a kid and now I'm doing the same for ours.
Here are 7 steps to get your gut on track by Naturopath Ignaria Moffitt;
1. Try to set regular meal times and snack times to keep your blood sugars stable and your energy pumping through the day. Try to allow adequate time spaced between each meal for digestion time and time to allow your body to signal it is full.
2. Make sure you are drinking enough water during the day. The average amount of water you need is 2L each day. This is not a far fetched dream, it is a necessity. Did you know that dehydration can lead to sugar cravings, irritability, brain fog, fatigue, headaches and muscle soreness? Sound familiar 3pm slump? Kick its butt and get yourself a cute water bottle that allows you to easily track your hydration through the day.
3. Try for an 80/20 rule. What is this? It is a humble guide that allows you to have 20% of your diet made of life’s little treats like matcha lattes and dark chocolate squares, whilst your other 80% is made up of whole foods.
Your whole food diet might consist of:
• Wholegrains- like oats, unrefined rice and breads
• Legumes
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
Delicious concoctions can be made of any of the above categories as long as they stay whole. Think bliss balls made from whole dates and almonds and hummus with whole chickpeas and tahini.
4. Take your time to eat. Sit and chew your meal like you mean it and enjoy with friends, music and a beautiful table spread. Smell your food while you are cooking it and handle your foods to enjoy the colours and textures they have. This takes a little more time and effort sure, but the benefits to your digestion are amazing!
5. Include fermented foods. You have more organisms living in and on you than you have cells in your own body. Now that you have that fun fact to realise you are never alone, time to get your crew happy and working for you. Eating a variety of live cultured foods is the best way to keep your bowel brimming.
Try to include some of the following and variety is the key here:
• Miso- Try as a soup or stir through a stir fry after you have taken off the heat.
• Kombucha- The ultimate celebratory drink.
• Kim chi and Sauerkraut- delicious with fatty avocado salads, on toast or on mains.
• Yoghurt and kefir – in smoothies or muesli.
• Probiotic supplements- these may be prescribed for gut healing or after a course of antibiotics.
6. Take time out just for you to have a poo. Have you ever had poo performance anxiety in a public location? Try to set yourself a routine where a warm glass of water can get things going before leaving for the day. Always try to go to the toilet when you first get the urge and consider a squatty potty to help your alignment and have the perfect elimination.
7. If you have symptoms that are new or chronic it is best to be seen to personally by your health care provider via your doctor, naturopath or go to health guru. Gut symptoms can feel scary and overwhelming but are often easily supported once a clear diagnosis has been reached.
Just in case you can't get your hands on a kambucha scoby and make it yourself, I'm loving the Remedy Drinks Kombucha bottled bubbles and flavours!!! They are 100%
All-natural
Raw and unpasteurised
Certified organic
Vegan
Gluten-free
Fructose-free
Paleo friendly
Matcha has huge quantities of polyphenols — the naturally occurring compounds found in the tea plant that are thought to be responsible for some of the health effects conferred by a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. These polyphenols get broken down by our gut bacteria into bioactive, polyphenol-derived metabolites.
At the end of the day I want my babies, you and your family to have a smile on their faces everyday and it all starts with loving your guts!
Healthy guts, healthy happy kids :-)
Please share this with friends and family that may need to get in the know with their gut health.
XxDani