{"id":126,"date":"2021-11-14T12:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/letscareforhealth.com\/?p=126"},"modified":"2022-05-13T17:59:22","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T17:59:22","slug":"the-top-5-most-overlooked-foods-for-improved-gut-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/letscareforhealth.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/14\/the-top-5-most-overlooked-foods-for-improved-gut-health\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 5 Most Overlooked Foods For Improved Gut Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Dr Will Cole - Functional Medicine Expert\/Consultant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"You are what you eat.\u201d This common phrase couldn\u2019t be more true, but not in the way you might think. More accurately, the phrase should be \u201cYou are what your microbiome eats.\u201d The trillions of bacteria and yeast in your gastrointestinal tract are fueled by the food you eat on a daily basis and it can affect aspects of your health beyond digestion including your immune system, brain, and hormones<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my\u00a0telehealth functional medicine clinic<\/a>, I have worked with thousands of patients on their gut health journey. And the interesting thing is, many people who come to me are actually doing all the \u201cright\u201d things but still struggle with gut problems. But the deeper I dive into their case, I see the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since every person\u2019s biochemistry and microbiome are vastly different and brilliantly designed, it can be easy to overlook the big picture. Without taking into account this bio-individuality, food becomes a \u201cone-size-fits-all\u201d mentality and you can forget about certain foods and nutrients that contribute to thriving gut health<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of hyper-focusing on what foods to avoid, focus on the ones you\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0should<\/em>\u00a0be eating. Without further ado, these are my top five underrated foods that can help improve your gut health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ginger<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People have been harnessing ginger\u2019s\u00a0healing properties<\/a>\u00a0for thousands of years as a tool to help soothe upset stomachs. In fact,\u00a0 studies<\/a>\u00a0(1)\u00a0have shown ginger\u2019s ability to help lower inflammation in the body after just one month of consistent use. One way to incorporate more ginger is by making tea with<\/em><\/strong> sliced ginger root<\/em><\/strong> and hot water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Sulfur-rich vegetables<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegetables like broccoli<\/em><\/strong>, Brussels sprouts<\/em><\/strong>, red cabbage<\/em><\/strong>, and asparagus<\/em><\/strong> are abundant in sulfur. Responsible for repairing DNA, this mineral also recycles your body\u2019s main antioxidant, glutathione, which works to support oxidant balance throughout your body and in your gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since these vegetables can be harder to digest if you are already struggling with gut problems, I suggest eating them in soups or stews\/goulash<\/em><\/strong> as the cooking process makes them easier to digest by breaking down some of the fiber and sugar content.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Garlic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garlic<\/a>\u00a0is a staple in pretty much every savory recipe. But did you know it has powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties? Because of this, garlic helps keep your microbiome balanced by\u00a0 fighting off<\/a>\u00a0(2) harmful bacteria. Also, garlic contains a type of prebiotic fiber called inulin that fuels the growth of good bacteria<\/em><\/strong>. Next time you\u2019re cooking dinner, toss in an extra garlic clove<\/em><\/strong> or two - your gut and tastebuds will be thankful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Resistant starch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resistant starch is a tool I recommend for many of my patients who need a little extra help with their gut health. This type of starch can actually resist the digestive process and act as food for your good gut bacteria. It can also help support overall wellness by improving metabolic health through stabilizing blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find resistant starch in legumes<\/em><\/strong>, potatoes<\/em><\/strong>, green bananas, cooked rice<\/em><\/strong>, and rolled oats<\/em><\/strong>. It is also found in Non-GMO potato starch<\/em><\/strong> and hi-maize<\/em><\/strong> resistant starch powders which are great for adding into smoothies and other recipes to make adding this to your diet a lot more convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Olive oil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The secret of Extra Virgin Olive oil<\/em><\/strong> is found in its polyphenol and fatty acid content that both help facilitate the growth of good bacteria in your microbiome. Try getting in more olive oil by pouring some over your finished meal<\/em><\/strong> or in homemade salad dressings<\/em><\/strong> as an added nutrient boost. You can also find fatty acids and polyphenols in other foods like flaxseeds<\/em><\/strong> and almonds<\/em><\/strong> so you can experiment with additional ways to get in these nutrients throughout your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So next time you are at the grocery store, stock up on these foods and experiment with different ways to incorporate them into your meals. You may be surprised at just how much your gut health can improve by enriching your diet with these important nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam\u00a0health consultations<\/a>\u00a0for people around the globe.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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