Feeding your gut

It is almost springtime and if you are like me it is an exciting time of year. The air feels fresher. The sun is out longer, and everything just starts to feel easier. This can be a great time of year to focus on improving your energy and health through gentle nutrition. One way to do that is by replenishing your supply of good bacteria in your gut.

Our colon hosts TRILLIONS of bacteria. They far out number the amount of cells in our body. In fact, they make up 2-4 lb. of the weight of our large intestine. These bacteria play a huge role in the microbiome of our body. Some of their roles are:

Developing our immune system
Digesting dietary fiber to produce protective metabolites for colon
Influencing serotonin production
Competing with pathogenic microbes
Maintaining the integrity of intestinal wall barrier
Producing anti-inflammatory compounds
Detoxifying drugs and other environmental metabolites
Making essential vitamins for us such as biotin, folate, and vitamin K

Wow! So how do we help these little critters flourish?

Believe it or not the following foods help probiotics grow in our gut:

Coffee
Tea
Red wine
Fruits and vegetables

Also, by eating fermented foods you can replenish the supply of probiotics in your gut. These include:

Keifir
Kombucha
Sauerkraut (the kind you find in the refrigerated section)
Miso

So while you are getting some pep in your step this spring, take some time to love those little bacteria growing in your gut and feel better doing so!