Is the secret to a healthy life getting your gut right? Health professionals think so.

Understanding Our Gut

Human bodies have “trillions of microorganisms” that together make up our microbiome, says the Harvard School for Public Health. The human gut contains “large families of bacteria” that help regulate the “overgrowth of harmful bacteria.”

However, an imbalance of microbes in the gut biome can lead to adverse health conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity, according to Integrative Medicine.

Fermented Foods

What dietary changes can someone make to ensure a healthy gut? Sean O’Mara, MD, recommends swapping carbohydrates for fermented foods. The living microbes found in fermented foods, “help to replace the bad carbohydrate loving microbes inside of your gut with beneficial microbes,” he told Drew Mariani.

O’Mara suggested that while some doctors think fermented foods are a problem, “they really are not…when introduced appropriately.”

Consumers who want to eat fermented foods should make sure they’re actually fermented. For example, “most kombucha that you see in stores are not adequately fermented,” warned O’Mara. Store-bought kombucha also has a lot of added sugar. Instead, O’Mara recommended making food at home or finding fermented products at a food co-op.

What about Probiotics?

Some consumers are encouraged by studies showing the positive effects of probiotics supplements. O’Mara isn’t convinced. “The studies that are oftentimes promoted by these supplement companies…are …not very good quality science.” While probiotics do provide living microbes, fermented foods provide more microbes “and in larger diversity” than probiotics.

Protecting Your Gut

In addition to eating fermented foods, sleep, exercise and hydration are key to maintaining good gut health, according to Dr. Tara Menon, a gastroenterologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Memon also recommends getting enough fiber. “Things like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds are sources of healthy fiber that you can add to your diet.”

 

To listen to the entire conversation, click here.