The Gut-Healing Trend: How to Achieve Optimal Digestive Wellness

Lately, going on social media without reading the phrase ‘heal your gut’ is nearly impossible. The trend has overcome every video on Tiktok, Instagram, and most of our lives. Of course, none of us want to miss these life-changing trends. So, let’s find out what exactly it means to “heal” your gut, and how to achieve it.

Your gut starts from the stomach down, where all the digestion happens and inflammation and bloating begins. So everything that you eat and drink affects your gut. Basically, when you wake up on Monday morning after last weekend’s beers and burgers, and find your stomach a bit bloated, it means your gut isn’t as healthy as it could be. These symptoms could have a direct impact on your anxiety or depression. But since life is all about balance, here are a few things that will help you maintain a healthy and optimal gut microbiome.

First off, unhealthy gut can manifest in various symptoms that affect overall well-being. Common signs of an unhealthy gut include persistent gi issues such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, leaky gut or constipation. Individuals may experience frequent heartburn or indigestion as well. Skin problems like eczema or acne might arise, indicating a possible connection between gut health and skin conditions. Fatigue and chronic tiredness may also be linked to an unhealthy gut, as the body struggles to absorb essential nutrients effectively. Additionally, mood disturbances like anxiety, depression, or irritability can be influenced by gut health, as the gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis. These symptoms emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced gut through a nutritious diet, probiotics, and a healthy lifestyle to support overall health and well-being.

The things you should add to your grocery list are:
Probiotics like yogurt, kimchi and tempeh. These help digest food properly, by making its nutrients easier to absorb and help with constipation which results in great digestive health.

Prebiotic foods like bananas, berries, onions, leeks, asparagus and garlic.
Foods filled with fiber, which can be found in apples, quinoa or brown rice. Fiber promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut.

Rye and sourdough bread, both of which contain the famous beneficial bacteria.
Vegetables, due to their high fiber content, vitamins, and minerals. (But you knew this already).

Looking at all these ingredients may seem overwhelming when thinking about how to eat all of them in your day to day. But since most of them are things you already have in your kitchen, the trick is integrating them into your regular diet.

Start your day by making a breakfast bowl with Greek yogurt, banana, berries and apple. For lunch, you could do a tempeh and veggie stir-fry, and when you’re getting your afternoon snack, have it with a kefir and berry smoothie. For dinner, after an exhausting day at the office, treat yourself with a hearty meal: a vegetable lentil soup that will do the trick. It’s got tons of fiber, and is seasoned with gut-friendly spices like turmeric and cinnamon. At the end of the day, you’ll have had delicious meals, taken care of gut health and, without even noticing, participated in the latest trend.