Simple Home Remedies for a Healthy Gut

We often tell people to trust their gut when it comes to making big decisions but do you actually think about the health of this area? The digestive tract is home to a variety of organisms that play an essential role in physical and even mental health so it’s important to have a healthy balance in this area. If you frequently feel abdominal pain, nausea, cramping, and other undesirable digestive symptoms, you may not be in the best of health.

Some serious problems may need to be seen by a specialist but many of us can also work on improving our health with some simple changes to diet and lifestyle. There are a few home remedies for gut health with can help you feel more regulated and improve your physical health, immunity, and more.

Eat More Fermented Foods and Probiotics

There are millions of organisms that live in your digestive tract. These include bacteria, yeast, and viruses. They may also be known as the gut flora or the gut microbiome. Many of these are beneficial and some are even essential. Others can be harmful though and take over if you’re not careful. Some of these harmful bacteria may be present in larger numbers after you’ve gotten sick, had a limited diet, or recently been on medications such as antibiotics.

The good news is that eating more foods that contain probiotics or the healthy gut bacteria can turn the balance back to a healthier state. You can take probiotic supplements if you want but fermented foods are a great way to get these bacteria into your system naturally. Fermented vegetables, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and tempeh are all sources of probiotics. If some of these foods are too strong for you, consider adding yogurt to your daily diet. You may also want to include prebiotics, or the foods that feed beneficial bacteria. These include bananas, onions, and garlic among others. Try to include these every day for the best results.

Eat a Vegetarian Diet

It may surprise you to learn that meat and meat products can actually have a harmful effect on your intestinal health. One of the key ways to reverse this is simply by going vegetarian. Not everyone can do this every day but even going vegetarian for a period of time or just a few days can make a significant difference. Consider giving up meat and meat products at least one or two days a week or going without meat for a week. This can help you to see improvements naturally and you may be surprised when you reap the benefits.

Studies into gut health have shown that there is a significant difference between the microbiome of people who eat meat and those who don’t. A vegetarian diet may improve health since it is high in prebiotic fiber and overall vitamins and minerals. In one study that was done, people ate a vegetarian diet without any animal products. At the end of the month, they had lower gut inflammation, weight loss, and a significantly different mix of bacteria in their intestinal tract, showing a significant benefit.

Drink Ginger Tea

There are many teas which promote good digestive health but one of the best home remedies is actually ginger. You can purchase ginger tea or even make your own. Fresh ginger can be cut up or ground and mixed with hot water which you can enjoy throughout the day. Ginger is known as a universal remedy for a number of stomach ailments and with good reason. It’s a key ingredient in many natural recipes.

Ginger works in a variety of ways. It relieves any current inflammation and pain by relaxing the smooth muscles of the intestines, helping to relieve gas and cramping. It also stimulates digestion by speeding up the movement of the food from the stomach to the intestine. Helping to relieve any pain after eating, ginger naturally stimulates saliva, bile, and gastric enzymes to promote good digestion and healthy transit time through the system.

Include Collagen Daily

Collagen is made from animal bones and are rich sources of glycine and glutamine. These are amino acids which promote healthy digestion and support a healthy gut barrier. Although there are a number of sources where you can get collagen, one of the best sources is actually bone broth. Many people even make their own. For example, boiling a chicken after removing the meat will release the collagen which can then be enjoyed in soup recipes or even on its own.

Bone broth is a nutritious choice, especially when its made from quality ingredients such as organic poultry or grass-fed meat. You can make your own but consider getting it from a good source if you’re short on time. It also contains healthy minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus so it’s a great superfood to contain in your diet.

Drink Green Juice

Green vegetables are a great source of phytonutrients and they’re also alkaline, helping to clean out your digestive system and nourish it into a much better functioning system. Removing toxins from the digestive system, don’t be surprised if having just one glass of green juice every day does wonders for your GI tract. If you enjoy making your own green juice, you can certainly come up with your preferred blends. However, if not, there are also readily available ones. Look for green juices that are made without excess or added sugar for a healthy addition to your system. Have a glass every day as a pick-me-up and don’t be surprised if you notice a difference within a few days.

These are a few simple methods that you can use at home to improve the health of your gut. Keep in mind that most of these may offer some relief immediately but also take some time to work. Stick with them and you’ll reap the benefits over time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was your digestive system. Pay attention to your body and take note of the benefits you see.