Having a healthy gut is a must if you’re eager to optimize your overall well-being. It’s not just about eating the right food but involves balancing many lifestyle factors. With that in mind, here are some best practices to adhere to which can make a marked difference on gut health.
Exercising
Exercise doesn’t only tone your muscles and reduce stress. It also offers significant benefits to gut health that you simply cannot ignore. Here are a few tips:
- Incorporate exercise into daily routine: A simple, brisk walk after meals can aid digestion.
- Try different types of activities: Mix it up with cardio exercises, yoga classes, or strength training sessions.
- Keep it regular: Consistency is a must if you’re hoping for a positive effect on gut health from your workouts.
– Listen to your body: Don’t push ahead if anything feels uncomfortable when exercising. Pay attention to unexpected pain, and adjust your fitness routine accordingly so you don’t overstretch yourself and do more harm than good.
Taking a Prebiotic Supplement
Another way to support your gut health is by taking prebiotic supplements, like those recommended by Performance Lab.
These supply your body with the nutrients that it needs to foster a healthy microbiome balance. That means they help feed good bacteria in your gut and are as important as eating fiber-rich foods.
Supplements of various types can enhance your health, but they shouldn’t be used as a substitute for sticking to a gut-positive diet more generally, so keep that in mind.
Staying Hydrated
Water plays a vital role in managing your gut health. It helps food to pass through the intestines and aids digestion, leading to smoother bowel movements.
Here are some helpful tips to ensure you’re getting enough water:
- Keep a bottle of water handy: Always having water around encourages you to hydrate regularly.
- Make it tasty: Add slices of fruit or herbs, like cucumber or mint, for subtly flavored hydration.
- Use an app: Tech can help remind us when we’ve forgotten our most basic human needs, including drinking adequate amounts of water.
Regarding quantities to aim for, experts recommend drinking approximately 2 liters of water daily (around eight 8-ounce glasses), but individual requirements may vary. If the weather is warm, or you’re taking part in vigorous physical exercise, then you’ll need to drink more to stay hydrated.
Reducing Stress
You might not realize it, but stress can take a toll on your gut health, and is one of the main threats to your wellbeing. As a result, it’s important to develop strategies for managing stress levels to ensure a healthy digestive system.
Consider incorporating these tips into your daily routine:
- Mindfulness practices: Techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises can calm the mind and in turn relieve gut stress.
- Keeping up hobbies: Engaging in activities that bring you joy is an effective way of reducing stress levels.
- Quality sleep: Strive for at least 7 hours of sound sleep every night to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal system goes both ways. A troubled intestine sends signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain sends signals to the intestines. So by managing stress effectively, we’re protecting not only our mental state but also our digestive systems.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your gut health may seem like yet another responsibility to take onboard, but following these best practices will ensure that it doesn’t have to weigh on your mind or take up too much of your time. The more you manipulate your habits to put a healthy gut at the top of the agenda, the more improvement you’ll see.