The Diet That Keeps Your Gut Healthy
By Stepy Kamei
It's no secret that a good diet is one that keeps your body healthy and happy. However, certain diets provide more specific benefits than others. For instance, one of the most crucial, yet commonly overlooked, aspects of the body's health can be found in the stomach. Specifically, the microbes within the gut play a surprisingly large role in determining other aspects of your physical and mental well-being. Therefore, it's more important than you may realize to make sure you're eating the kinds of foods that further encourage the growth and sustainability of friendly bacteria within the gut.
The good news is that there is a dietary plan that encourages healthy gut bacteria to grow while promoting better health and wellness throughout the body as well. Best of all, this doesn't involve any drastic changes to your diet or lifestyle -- it really boils down to adding particular foods which are healthy and full of nutrients into your everyday meals. This diet is known as the Mediterranean diet, given that it involves the typical ingredients and foods of meals found throughout the Mediterranean -- one of the healthiest areas of the world.
The Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
This particular diet has been consumed by people living in the Mediterranean area of the world for thousands of years to the great benefit to the health of these cultures. People living in Greece, Italy, and southern Spain all tend to experience longer lifespans and fewer instances of health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and depression -- and the food they eat plays a big role in this.
Generally speaking, this diet involves consuming foods that are fresh and minimally processed. More specifically, lean proteins such as fish, nuts, legumes, seeds, and fresh produce are all staples of the Mediterranean region's diet. These foods have long been praised for their ability to reduce inflammation in the body, stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and promote energy and flexibility. However, more recent studies are showing that this type of diet can also promote gut health by providing an environment for healthy bacteria to grow in the stomach.
How Gut Health Impacts You
It may sound surprising, but the amount of healthy bacteria in your gut can directly influence many other facets of your physical and mental health. Positive gut bacteria encourages proper food absorption, strengthens the immune system, and even fights off feelings of stress and anxiety in the brain! Be sure to incorporate more aspects of the Mediterranean diet into your favorite recipes and snacks in order to promote a better sense of well-being throughout your entire body.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Morrisville, N.C.