Gut Health

Gut-Friendly Foods

Have you heard about “gut-friendly” foods? Eating these foods – which contain “good” bacteria called probiotics – can allegedly ease digestive issues such as constipation, bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But is this health trend just hype? Let’s learn more and see if we can truly trust our guts!

The National Institutes of Health report that around 60 to 70 million Americans experience some form of debilitating digestive issue. The gastrointestinal tract is home to over 500 species of bacteria that can throw our whole digestive system into complete chaos – therefore, enjoying a probiotic-packed snack or two may help us treat (and in some cases, prevent) many of our digestive difficulties.

Not sure what a gut-friendly food looks like? You’re in luck! You’re probably already familiar with many gut-friendly foods (or even eat them on a regular basis), such as:

•             Asparagus

•             Bananas

•             Cottage cheese

•             Fermented foods and drinks (kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, miso, natto)

•             Garlic

•             Onions

•             Sourdough bread

•             Yogurt (the “natural” kinds – avoid the varieties packed with added sugar!)

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: 

Take a probiotic-packed snack to work this week!