Believe it or not, your gut has a direct connection to your brain, immune system, and why nurturing it through the right foods is key.
Picture your gut as a bustling city, teeming with life and activity, complete with winding roads and bustling neighborhoods. It stretches for miles, with its centerpiece being the intestines, which measure up to a whopping 25 feet long! This elaborate system is responsible for digesting and absorbing the nutrients from your food, ensuring that your body gets the fuel it needs to thrive.
Now, here’s a fascinating fact: your gut is often referred to as your “second brain.” Just like friends who finish each other’s sentences, your gut and brain are in constant communication. They share a special connection called the gut-brain axis. It’s like a superhighway where messages travel back and forth, influencing your emotions, mood, and even cognitive function.
So, keeping your gut happy and healthy can contribute to a harmonious symphony between your two brains!
Now, imagine your gut as a fortress, guarding your body against invaders. Believe it or not, a whopping 80% of your immune system takes residence in your gut. Specialized immune cells stationed along your gut lining stand ready to defend against harmful pathogens and bacteria. A well-nourished gut strengthens this defense system, reducing the risk of infections and diseases. It’s like having an army of brave warriors protecting your well-being.
Within your gut city lies a diverse and vibrant community known as the microbiome. Think of it as a lively neighborhood where trillions of microorganisms, like friendly neighbors, reside. These good bacteria, fungi, and other microbes form a delicate balance that keeps your gut ecosystem thriving.
Probiotics, your good bacteria and the superheroes of the microbiome, play a vital role in maintaining gut health. They are like helpful neighbors who keep the neighborhood in harmony.
Probiotics support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and even produce essential vitamins. You can find them in fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir. So, think of these foods as delicious invitations for the good bacteria to join the gut party!
To keep your gut neighborhood buzzing with activity, you need to provide food or nourishment to those friendly microbes. Enter prebiotics, the fiber heroes that serve as food for the good bacteria.
They are like the community gardens that sustain the neighborhood’s well-being. Artichokes, garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas, and whole grains are fantastic sources of prebiotic fiber. By including them in your diet, you’re laying out a grand feast for your gut community to flourish.
Now, let’s talk about my secret weapon, resistant starch—nature’s treasure for your gut city. It’s a unique type of starch that resists digestion in the small intestine, making its way to the colon intact. Once there, it becomes a valuable food source for your beneficial bacteria.
Resistant starch is like the hidden gem, found in foods like potatoes or rice. The trick is to cook them and then cool them by putting them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. By doing this, they become resistant, meaning they are more difficult to digest (and therefore resist turning into fat) and serve as food for your good bugs instead.
Conversely, there are the foods that feed those bad bugs that will disrupt your city and therefore lower your immune system, contribute to weight gain and even negatively affect your emotions.
No surprise, sugar and foods that break down into sugar such as breads, pasta and processed foods and the villains in your “city.”
Yes, your gut health is like tending to a thriving city. By nurturing it, you unlock the secrets to your overall well-being.
Remember, your gut is your second brain, your immune system’s stronghold, and the neighborhood of diverse microbes that influence your health. Enjoy the power of prebiotic-rich foods like artichokes, onions, and whole grains, and invite the good bacteria to party with probiotic-rich sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir.
And don’t forget the resistant starch in cooked and cooled potatoes, or rice, the hidden gem that fuels your gut community.
Please check out what I often have for lunch in the video below. (And if you like the video, please subscribe for more great info:).)
Also, if you want to see what I eat every day to maintain my weight and high energy all day, please download my free shopping list.
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Love and Health,
Jill
All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication;instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease.
