​So following on from last week’s article, here are some of my favourite ways to improve gut health at home:  

• Follow the 80/20 rule – 80% of your diet should be fresh produce cooked at home, 20% can be products bought already made up
• 10 a day rule – incorporate 10 portions of vegetables and fruit in your daily routine.  This can include juicing but you need to make sure you are getting at least half from the eating fruits and vegetables.
• Organic – organic where possible as the good bacteria will be higher and less likely to have been killed of by chemicals.
• Probiotics – this can include natural yoghurts, kefir milks, and other probiotic foods
• Eat more fermented foods – fermented foods have a rich history throughout Europe and Asia from sauerkraut to kimchi.  Include more fermented foods
• Drink kombucha
• Get that water in – the digestive tract requires a lot of water to maintain its homeostasis so make sure you are getting in an average of 2L
• Get out in the sun (when it shines) – Vitamin D is vital for gut health
• Reduce your exposure to toxins – this includes reducing plastic use, reducing alcohol, reducing processed foods, choosing your detergents carefully, getting out in nature.

 
If you are looking for a good probiotic my recommendation is always:

• Biokult – reasonably priced and a good blend of beneficial bacteria
• Optibac – a scientific nutritional brand of probiotics with a good range for different issues
• Biocare – again a good blend of beneficial bacteria’s and scientifically researched

I choose these probiotics because these are the ones thatI have seen the best results with in my 15 years of practice.
 
These are all things that can be introduced into your daily lives before you ever look at a supplement.  Supplements have their place but never substitute living healthy.  If introducing these practices don’t yield results withing 6 weeks, then you should seek professional advice of a nutritional therapist or herbalist to see if you need a more tailored approach.
 
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads

You will often hear me talking about gut health if you follow me, but why is gut health so important?  Well this week I’ll explain why gut health matters so much and next week I’ll remind you of some of the simple daily habits you can adopt to keep your gut in great shape.
 
So why is the gut so healthy?  Hippocrates, the father of medicine, has been quoted as saying “all disease starts in the gut”.
 
 
The gut has a connection to the function of all our major organs

• Gut – immune system – it is thought between 70-90% of our immune system resides in our gastrointestinal system, mainly made up with the good bacteria that grows there
• Gut – brain axis – the Central Nervous System (CNS) resides in the brain and the spinal chord, the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) resides in the gut.  Both nervous systems are made up of the same tissue, release the same levels of dopamine(high hormone) and serotonin (happy hormone),  share similar neuronal networks, they also have a two way communication pathway through the Vagus Nerve.
• Gut – lung axis – studies have shown that changes in gut bacteria can have a huge effect on lung disease. 
• Gut – skin – skin issues are often an external sign of something going wrong in the gut.  
• Gut – urinary system – bad bacteria from the gut can transfer to the urinary system through bad toilet habits causing kidney and bladder infections
• Gut – liver –  Constipation causes an excess of toxins in the system putting an extra burden on the liver
• Gut – hormones – again constipation can have a real effect on hormones, creating an excess as they are normally excreted with the stools
• Gut – inflammation – numerous studies link gut microbiota to inflammatory disease

 
So what does all this mean for you?  Well, ask yourself if you have any health issue related to any of these areas, do you also have a disrupted digestion?  This can be anything from irregular bowel habits, constipation, diarrhoea, GERD (gastrointestinal reflux), hernia, H-Pylori or any other issue that affect the digestion system.
 
Watch out for next week when I’ll give you some ideas on how to improve your gut health.
 
 
You can follow carina at:
www.itsanaturalchoice.com
www.breaking-fads.com
Follow her journey on Facebook & Instagram:
It’s A Natural Choice  
We love breaking fads
Join Facebook group – The Natural Health Tribe
@itsanaturalchoice
@welovebreakingfads