You have three to four pounds of this living inside of you, most of them in your gut. They number at least 100 trillion and some believe over 300 trillion. Some are good, some are bad and some live in the in-between. What side do you want to win? These little guys are master signalers for your entire body. Imbalance can not only cause poor digestion and painful diseases such as celiac and Crohns and autoimmune diseases, but they signal weight loss! Now that got your attention!
This week we will work on our gut health and bringing our microbiome into balance. Do you know that the neurotransmitter Serotonin is primarily made in your gut? Your microbiome is more than signalers, they are creators. They are digesters. They are the most overlooked part of our health, partly because they are a newer discovery. The bacteria in your gut need food. The harmful bacteria feed on sugar. That means refined carbs are your enemy's friend. The good bacteria feed on prebiotics and fiber. Prebiotics are found in foods like leeks, onions, garlic, apples, asparagus, and dandelion greens. Fiber is found in vegetables! Sure, you can get some from wheat and barely, but get it from veggies. You can take supplements for each of these things, but it is best to get these keys for gut health through food.
You have probably heard about probiotics. They are the bacteria. There are probiotic supplements, probiotic drinks like Kombucha and probiotic foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. This week's challenge will include all of the above. There won't be much difference between the three levels. I would encourage everyone to go to level 3. Why not? Improve your gut health and improve your health.
