How to Support Your Gut Naturally
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of EpiCor. All opinions are 100% mine.
The saying “you are what you eat” is not just a cliché! Scientists say that our gut is like a “second brain” and problems in the gut can cause problems for our entire body!
Not only does an imbalance in our gut cause digestive issues, but it may be linked to other side effects, such as low energy, pain, mood swings, and anxiety.
If you’ve been dealing with any of the above but haven’t found a “fix” yet, the answer might come from within! Supporting your gut can actually help heal your mind and body too!
Here’s how it worked for me and could help you too:
5 Ways to Support Your Gut Naturally
Healing your gut involves more than just food choices, but all of these steps are relatively simple to try!
1. Get more sleep
When I don’t sleep well, I actually feel sick to my stomach the next day. I always wondered if I was imagining things, but turns out that there is science behind the way sleep affects gut health!
A 2019 study at Nova Southeastern University found that better sleep led to increased biome diversity in the gut. Research team member Jamie Tartar, Ph.D. explains that the “deepest stages of sleep is when the brain ‘takes out the trash’ since the brain and gut communicate with each other.”
So it makes sense that if you’re not getting enough deep sleep, you literally feel it the next day because your body did not have a chance to reset.
2. Reduce stress levels
Stress is one of the most damaging things to our body, and the gut is affected.
Stress directly affects brain-gut communication, which may cause:
- Pain and bloating
- Changes in gut bacteria
- Trouble thinking clearly
- Mood swings
While we can’t always control outside stressors, we can control how we manage stress. Taking a few deep breaths has been shown to instantly lower stress because it sends a message to your brain to calm down. A regular yoga practice is also beneficial for maintaining lower stress overall — I can personally vouch for this!
Related: 7 Amazing Benefits of Hot Yoga
3. Exercise often
A 2019 study concluded that “Exercise-induced changes in microbial diversity are able to improve tissue metabolism, cardiorespiratory fitness, and insulin resistance.”
In simple terms, regular exercise improves digestion and makes the body run more efficiently. Plus, you just feel better!
4. Eat a more plant based diet
A 2019 study published in Nature Microbiology found a link between consuming red meat and an increased risk to the colon and heart.
The reason? When we eat red meat, an enzyme in our gut bacteria releases a compound called N-glycolylneuraminic acid, or “Neu5Gc” for short. Since this is not a substance our body creates on its own, it views Neu5Gc as a foreign entity and creates antibodies to fight it.
The take-away? Eat less meat and more plant-based foods and your gut will thank you!
5. Add fermentates to your diet
You might have heard of “probiotics” as a way to support gut health and your immune system, however, fermentates like EpiCor may actually be a good way to get the same positive benefits!
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are living organisms that provide a health benefit that are found naturally in certain types of food, such as some yogurt products. When you eat probiotics, you are adding good bacteria to your gut. This, in turn, may provide health benefits.
However, probiotics need to be stored properly to keep them alive to make them beneficial.
What is EpiCor fermentate?
EpiCor fermentate is an ingredient clinically shown to support the immune system. It is produced through a unique fermentation process EpiCor is then sold to the vitamin and supplement brands who then incorporate it into their products. Some of those trusted names include Healthy Origins, Gut Connection by Country Life and Align.
If a product uses EpiCor, you’ll find it on the nutrition label.
You can also find out where to get your EpiCor here!
How long does it take to feel an effect?
It may take a while for your body to adjust to taking a natural supplement, sometimes up to 4 weeks and I highly recommend going the supplement route by incorporating EpiCor fermentate into your diet.
I’ll admit that I deal with digestive issues from time to time. I have to be really careful about what I eat or I feel it! Gluten-based products, greasy foods, sugar, alcohol — they all cause some pretty unpleasant side effects for me.
When EpiCor sent me Align Probiotic Kombucha Tea to try, I was a bit skeptical that it would help me promote gut health – well, I was wrong!!
Not only was the tea delicious and refreshing, with a light subtle flavor.
I’ve been enjoying a glass of iced Align Probiotic Kombucha Tea every afternoon as a pick-me-up. It’s made such a difference in how I feel!
I’m an EpiCor believer now for sure!
Find out where to get your EpiCor here!
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