Foods That Heal the Gut

The holidays can be a tough time for many of us for various reasons. The parties and the treat foods are abounding. If you have digestive issues, you are probably feeling the discomfort of a month of indulging… I would suggest that you say no to the processed holiday foods and the sugary treats that wreck havoc on the immune and digestive system. The last week of the year is a good time to set your body up for a healthy new year. Whenever possible, try to incorporate the list of foods mentioned below into your daily diet. Happy and Healthy holiday!

https://www.afpafitness.com/blog/10-foods-to-heal-leaky-gut-and-improve-gi-function

10 Foods For Improved Gut Health

“Knowing the correct supplements is a must, especially when our food intake decides which kind of microorganisms thrive in our body. Here are 10 foods which can prove to be a boon for your gut health.

Miso

Miso means fermented beans in Japanese. It is made from fermented soybeans and contains billions of beneficial bacteria. In Japan, many people still begin their day with a hearty bowl of miso soup to stimulate digestion and energize the body. 

Miso is quite rich in essential minerals and a great source of vitamins (B, E, and K) and folic acid. It also adds the fifth element of taste (umami) to dishes like soups, broths, stews, and marinades.

Oryzae is the most important probiotic strain found in miso. Research shows that the probiotics in this condiment may help reduce symptoms linked to digestive problems, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  

Plant-based metabolic enzymes and probiotics, which are abundantly found in miso, can survive the journey through your intestines. They have a higher heat resistance than animal-based probiotics like the ones in most yogurts. 

There’s no wonder that this Japanese superfood is being highly recommended for gut health.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made by lacto-fermentation, which is also responsible for other fermented delicacies like sauerkraut (more on that later!). In the primary stage, cabbage is soaked in a salty brine that eliminates harmful bacteria. 

In the next step, the surviving Lactobacillus bacteria (good bacteria) mentioned earlier as well, convert sugars into lactic acid, which preserves the vegetables and imparts flavor.

Gut-friendly bacteria can allow the production of chemicals called short-chain fatty acids, which improves the immune system by keeping it balanced.

Fruits

Gut bacteria need a stable and friendly environment in which to thrive. The ideal pH in the human colon is between 6.7 and 6.9. To sustain good bacteria and to prevent harmful bacteria from flourishing, the colon needs to be slightly acidic.

One of the easiest ways to maintain a desirable pH balance is to eat fruits high in fiber. The following fruits are highly effective:

Bananas: 

Bananas are highly rich in soluble fiber. They also contain a prebiotic compound that passes through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and remains undigested. Only when they pass through the small intestine, they reach the colon where they are fermented by the gut microflora. 

Bananas maintain harmony among microbes in your intestinal ecosystem.

Raspberries:

Raspberries are full of soluble fiber. The high fiber and water content in raspberries help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Pears:

When it comes to our GI health, pears are fiber-dense fruits, and their skin is particularly beneficial. They contain at least three to four times as many phenolic phytonutrients as the flesh. These phytonutrients include antioxidants, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, and anti-carcinogenic phytonutrients, like cinnamic acids.

 Apple:

Apart from the other health benefits that apples are known for, intake of apples significantly alters amounts of two bacteria (clostridiales and bacteroides) in the large intestine. The balance of these bacteria has a significant impact on your metabolism.

Kiwi:

The fiber in kiwi binds and removes toxins from the colon, which is beneficial in preventing colon cancer. They are also dense with nutrients like proteins with almost negligible fat value.

Blueberries:

Keeping aside all the mouth-watering pies this fruit yields by its mere presence, blueberries are a major source of the bifidobacteria, which improves gut health. It has an important role in the process of digestion and is an abundant supply of the prebiotics contributing to the healthy bacteria in the gut and colon. No doubt, this one proves to be an essential part of the healthy gut food chart.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut (sour cabbage) is a German delicacy made from finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria. It has an enduring shelf life and a distinctive sour flavor. 

A pilot study found that regularly eating sauerkraut can help reduce symptoms of the annoying Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It has also been noticed to cause a spike in good bacteria.

Sauerkraut contains dietary fiber which aids digestion, optimizes blood sugar, and may even help lower cholesterol. It contains far more lactobacillus than yogurt, making it a better probiotic. 

A serving or two of sauerkraut every few days may help treat ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian fermented soy product that’s a popular vegetarian meat replacement. Tempeh is high in protein, prebiotics, and a wide array of vitamins and minerals.

Some studies have linked prebiotic intake with increased stool frequency, reduced inflammation, and improved memory. There’s also evidence to show that drinking tempeh causes beneficial changes in the gut microbiota, the bacteria that reside in your digestive system.

Kefir

Kefir is a healthy drink which originated in Eastern Europe and Russia. Traditionally, kefir is fermented at ambient temperatures overnight. Active fermentation of lactose yields a sour, carbonated, slightly alcoholic beverage. It is an effective antibiotic and helps with a lot of digestive system disorders.

It has a consistency and taste similar to drinkable yogurt, similar to lassi in India. However, like sauerkraut, it proves to be a more powerful probiotic than yogurt. Kefir can contain up to 30 strains of beneficial bacteria and yeasts. Some of the major strains include the lactobacillales – or lactic acid bacteria, which is a good bacteria for our gut.

Broccoli

Broccoli, a nutritious cruciferous vegetable, is a member of the cabbage family. The cruciferous family of vegetables  also includes cauliflower, brussel sprouts, arugula, bok choy, cabbage, kale, collard greens, cress, radishes, turnips, and kohlrabi.

Eating broccoli can help reduce inflammation in the colon and may decrease the incidence of colon cancer, among other cancers. It is also a source of folic acid which increases the appetite. With its relatively mild flavor, versatility, and affordability, broccoli provides an accessible and delicious way to give your body a brassica boost. 

Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens were historically used to purify the blood, address digestion-related problems, and prevent piles and gallstones. Dandelion greens are rich in inulin and pectin, which are soluble fibers that may help your body feel full longer and assist with weight control.

They might taste slightly bitter, so consider sautéing them with onions, drinking them with tea, or adding them to soups and salads.

Seaweed Jicama

Seaweed is high in fiber [25–75% ]. This is higher than the fiber content of most fruits and vegetables. 

Apart from its contribution to gut health, seaweed contains iodine and tyrosine, which support the thyroid function in our body and repair the damaged cells due to its unique calibre to absorb concentrated amounts of idonine from the ocean.

Flaxseed

Research on flaxseeds suggests that fermentation of flaxseed fibers in the gut changes the microbiota to improve metabolic health and protect against diet-induced obesity. 

The American journal of physiology focused on flaxseed’s beneficial properties: 

“Our data suggest that flaxseed fiber supplementation affects host metabolism by increasing energy expenditure and reducing obesity as well as by improving glucose tolerance. Future research should be directed to understand the relative contribution of the different microbes and delineate underlying mechanisms for how flaxseed fibers affect host metabolism.”

Incorporating Healthy Foods is the Key to Optimal Gastrointestinal Function

Our body is home to a trillion bacterial species, which form the human microbiome. Each microbiome is unique in its own way, leading to a variety of mix microbiomes, each benefiting its human body. 

Cleaning up your diet is the most powerful way to cancel the bad bacteria and embrace the good guys. 

These good bacteria do a lot for you— they digest your food, keep your immune system safe and sound, act as soldiers when infectious agents attack you, keep the toxic stuff away, and produce the vitamins and nutrients needed for human nutrition. From feeling anxious or happy to the disorders of the digestive system such as diarrhea or heart disease, your gut feeling truly decides your health. “

The list above is from the terrific article
https://www.afpafitness.com/blog/10-foods-to-heal-leaky-gut-and-improve-gi-function by AFPA co-founder
Mark Occhipinti, Ph.D.