Listening to Your Body: Simple Tips to Maintaining a Healthy Gut
Our bodies communicate with us all the time, but the real question is if we actually listen to our bodies when it talks to us. Our bodies communicate with us by way of presenting various symptoms to us. Things like headaches, sleep disturbances, and weight gain are all examples of how our bodies communicate with us. But one part of our body that actually plays a significant role in our overall health is our gut, and when your gut communicates with you, you really need to listen.
Our guts are incredibly complex, but there are links between our gut health and our physical and mental health, immune system, mood, and other areas of health that contribute to the functioning and betterment of our overall health. And this all starts in the gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome refers to the microorganisms living in our intestines, and there are up to around 500 species of bacteria living in our digestive tract, and it’s the foods we consume that determine how much good bacteria we have in our bodies to enhance the functioning of our bodies.
To maintain good gut health it starts with you. From the foods you eat to the lifestyle you lead, the condition of your gut will significantly impact your overall health. Here are some of the best ways to maintain a healthy gut, especially when your gut communicates with you.
Change Your Diet
If you’re used to eating fast food and junk food, your gut is bound to start communicating with you by way of stomach aches, heartburn, and diarrhea, among other things, and it’s ultimately a signal for you to change your eating habits.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to eat healthy that won’t make you miserable. Consuming raw fruits and vegetables daily will definitely make your gut happy. But it’s also important to note that if you’re not a fan of vegetables that you can get the recommended serving of two to two and a half cups daily by drinking one green juice a day.
Lower Your Stress Levels
High levels of stress can wreak havoc on your whole body, including your gut. To reduce your stress levels consider morning meditation, going for walks on lunch breaks, going to the spa for massages, or simply spending more time with the ones you love… No one is able to completely avoid stress in their lives but the point is to keep stress at bay, and if any of these methods work for you, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy gut.
Get Plenty of Sleep
You may not realize it but not getting enough sleep can negatively impact your gut health and cause sleep disturbances. Ideally, you want to get seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. But, of course, that’s not always possible for many people. Things like working late hours, extracurriculars for your children, and simply not being able to wind down soon enough can all contribute to your lack of sleep.
Consider putting room darkening curtains in your bedroom and investing in a quality mattress to not only get sufficient sleep but quality sleep as well.