The positives of a healthy gut
I’ve just discovered the most wonderful, soothing, gut healing soup recipe that I’ve shared with you on my recipe page. Before you go and give it a try, here’s a few things to remember about your gut.
Did you know that there are over 100 million neurons in this most intricate of systems in the body? We have a delicate balance of bacteria that reside in the gut and it houses 60-80% of our immune system. The gut is responsible for processing and distributing the nutrients we consume, which makes it easier to understand why we are what we eat!
When we are not looking after our gut as much as we should, we can suffer from a wide variety of problems, including hormonal issues, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, and a host of other chronic health problems.
To check whether you might have an unhealthy gut, Alkaline Diet expert Ross Bridges offers the following checklist:
10 Signs you’ve potentially got an unhealthy gut:
- Bloating, gas, diahorrea and digestive discomfort
- Frequent feelings of anxiety
- Poor memory and concentration, inability to focus
- Ongoing depression or depressive thoughts
- Frequent mood swings and a short fuse/irritability
- Diabetes or symptoms of pre-diabetes
- Allergies and sensitivities to at least one food
- A diagnosed autoimmune disease
- Frequent infections and frequent need for or prescriptions of antibiotics
- Topical skin complaints such as eczema, rosacea
And it’s Ross’ recipe that will help sooth and cleanse the gut. It has this wonderful variety of nourishing, replenishing ingredients that will feed and repair your gut:
- Lentils: containin heaps of folate, fibre, manganese, iron, protein, vitamin b1, b6, zinc and potassium, lentils have heart health, blood sugar stabilizing and most importantly, gut healing properites. The insoluble fibre in lentils helps prevent IBS, discomfort and diverticulosis.
- Sweet potato: Vitamin A, C, B1, B2, B3 and B6 rich, sweet potato is also an incredible source of manganese, fibre and potassium. Sweet potato is an antioxidant rich food that also serves as an anti-inflmmatory, which is critical for gut health. Nothing damages the gut more than inflammation.
- Spinach: Spinach is a super-superfood. Chlorophyll rich, it is one of the most impressive of the ‘dark leafy greens’ which are ALL incredible. In terms of gut health, spinach is also a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and contains huge amount of vitamin K, A B2, B6, B1, vitamin C and omega 3.
- Carrot: packed with vitamin A and C, carrots are mega-antioxidants – particularly their high carotenoid content. Brilliant for gut health due to their high content of Vitamin A, C, E and fibre.
- Bell Pepper: also high in Vitamins A, C and E, bell pepper (also known as pepper or capsicum) is a strong antioxidant which can support gut health, with bountiful amounts of carotenoids and flavonoids.
- Avocado: full of healthy omega 3s (specifically ALA), avocado is also a strong anti-inflammatory, containing high levels of phytosterols, carotenoid antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E.
- Dill: supports proper digestion by stimulating bile and digestive juices found in the stomach, while also is a powerful anti-oxidant. Studies have shown that Dill activates the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase which increases your antioxidant potential and reduces free radicals in the body.
- Cashews: equally high in phosphorus, magnesium, manganese and zinc, cashews are a powerfully antioxidant rich food that also support heart health, bone strength and are proven to help lower weight.
- Garlic: a potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral.
So what are you waiting for? Visit my recipe page for this wonderful, healing recipe and enjoy a new surge of energy that you won’t believe!
Jen
Results may vary from client to client.