healing foods for your tummy

Probiotics = for [not against] life. Otherwise defined as live micro-organisms that populate your gut to produce health in your body. Probiotics don't just come in an encapsulated form (although supplements can be helpful to restore the good bacteria in your gut especially after a course of antibiotics); probiotics also come in the form of what we eat and drink.

Heal your gut, heal your body.

Good bacteria is the key to good health. Probiotic foods are healing foods for your gut, your body and your life. If the balance of good and bad bacteria in our digestive tract is dominated by the bad bacteria then we are more susceptible to disease, food allergies or intolerances, digestive disturbances and even depression. Yes, depression. They don't call the gut the "second brain" for nothing. Your gut and brain are intricately connected by the enteric nervous system. Did you ever wonder why you get "butterflies" in your tummy when you are nervous? Well now you know!

So, how can we help to heal our guts?

First, we need to start to eliminate or reduce the triggers that contribute to poor gut health such as the use of antibiotics, chronic stress, the overuse of antibacterial products and the overconsumption of highly refined and processed foods, such as table salt, table sugar, refined carbohydrates and artificial junk "foods".

The next step is to start to incorporate more healing foods into your diet to inoculate your gut with the good bacteria again. These healing foods include fermented vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut and fermented beverages like kombucha and water kefir. You can easily make your own versions at home, which are generally better than store-bought versions as they may be pasteurised (i.e. heat-treated) and therefore be devoid of the good bacteria you want for your tummy! Also, you can incorporate prebiotic foods into your diet (avocado, asparagus, brussel sprouts, garlic, raw onion, sweet potato, yacon syrup), which are foods rich in soluble fibre, to help create a sort of fertiliser in your gut for the good bacteria.

As you consume healing foods your inner eco system is being built up to help heal your gut and heal your body. And if you are fortunate enough to be in good health these healing foods will ensure that you maintain your good health.

If you are kind to your body, your body will be kind to you!

Here is a list of healing foods and recipes you can integrate into your diet to help heal your gut… 

• Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic
• Coconut Milk Yoghurt
• Coconut Water Kefir
• Cultured Coconut Popsicles
• Fermented Cashew Cheese
• Healing Miso Soup
• Homemade Kombucha
• Moroccan Preserved Lemons
• Perfectly Pickled Plants
• Polish Sauerkraut
• Rejuvelac Grain Milk
• Ultimate Korean Kimchi

Quote for the Road…