Food, Health

How to improve gut health

Find out how to maintain good gut health and the importance of gut health. Let us explore the functions of the gut and how to look after it.

What is the gut?

Did you know that the gut starts at the mouth? This is referred to as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). The food that we eat goes down your oesophagus, into the stomach & then into your small intestine where it is digested and absorbed into your bloodstream.

In a nutshell, your gut is essentially the pathway from your mouth all the way to the rear. The gut controls a lot of your function and balance. Within the gut is the ‘gut microbiome‘, a composition of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The gut microbiome plays a huge part in your general health and wellbeing, also linking to your mental state. Many studies have suggested that the health of your gut can link to levels of depression, anxiety and certain personality traits. This refers to the ‘gut-brain axis‘, the two-way communication between the gut and brain.

The importance of the gut

They say that you have 3 brains: the head, the heart and the gut.

Your gut has the power to communicate with your brain through nerves and hormones. If your gut is in bad health, this can result in a number of things:

– Thyroid issues

– Diabetes

– Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation

– Sleep disturbances

– Skin irritations

How to improve gut health

To maintain good gut health there are a number of lifestyle changes that you can make in an attempt to improve gut health.

A great way to get your colon moving would be physical exercise. Regularly exercising is great for managing IBS and getting movement in your bowel.

Trying to manage your stress levels can have a positive impact on your gut health. We recommend taking up yoga or meditation to try and reduce your stress & anxiety levels.

In our opinion, the best and easiest place to start is to increase your water intake! Try drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day, as this can have huge benefits for your gut health. We recommend starting your journey to good gut health with a glass of water!

Apple cider vinegar & gut health

Willy’s organic apple cider vinegar with live mother is made through a process called fermentation. Yeast is added to crushed apples, leading to the production of alcohol. The next step in fermenting is adding bacteria to the ‘alcohol’, resulting in further fermentation.

Our ACV remains unfiltered and unpasteurised and therefore contains protein, enzymes and probiotic bacteria.

gut health foods

There’s a range of foods to improve gut health, such as:

– Yoghurt. A perfect source of probiotics, we recommend opting for the sugar-free, full-fat greek yoghurt to mix with berries for a healthy breakfast.

– Miso. Made from fermented soya beans and barley/ rice, miso contains a range of helpful bacteria & enzymes. Miso can be used in dressings, dips and soups. We definitely recommend fermented foods for gut health!

– Ginger. Helpful in the production of stomach acid, ginger can stimulate the digestive system to help food move through the gut.

– Peas. Full of soluble & insoluble fibre, peas are just what the gut needs in order to flourish!

– Avocado. Packed with fibre and potassium, avocados are great for promoting a healthy digestive function.