Improve Gut Health with Simple Lifestyle Habits

Last Updated 8/9/2022 • Posted in News

August 5, 2022 MOORESVILLE, N.C. Mooresville, NC – Maintaining a healthy digestive system, or gut, could be the key to better health. When healthy, the gut absorbs nutrients from food, eliminates waste, communicates with the brain and supports a healthy immune system and nervous system function. If the gut is unhealthy, it can cause digestive diseases which affect 60 - 70 million Americans according to the National Institute of Health.

Signs of an unhealthy gut include an upset stomach, sudden weight gain or loss without changes in lifestyle, disrupted sleep and constant fatigue. If left untreated, an unhealthy gut can lead to chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Optimal gut health is achieved when the bacteria inside of the gastrointestinal tract, made up of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, work together without causing discomfort.

“The subject of gut health is one that many people find to be confusing and daunting,” says Dr. Carl Foulks, Jr., board certified gastroenterologist. “Fortunately, keeping a healthy gut is simple and doable with good lifestyle choices.”

Dr. Foulks recommends these lifestyle habits to maintain a healthy gut:

● Consume probiotics: Eat probiotics from naturally fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut to help create a healthy balance of gut bacteria.

● Eat well: Avoid highly processed foods and eat more fruits, vegetables, lean protein and fiber like apples, broccoli, salmon and quinoa.

● Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help improve gut health by increasing beneficial microbial species and helping to reduce stress.

● Hydrate: Drinking enough water is a simple way to improve gut health and prevent constipation.

● Reduce stress: Try walking, meditating and spending time with loved ones to help reduce stress and decrease inflammation in the gut.

“You can have long-lasting effects on your lifespan by incorporating these gut-healthy behaviors into your daily routine. If worrying problems continue to exist, it might be time to see a doctor,” says Dr. Foulks.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy gut or to find a gastroenterologist, visit LakeNormanMedicalGroup.com.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Visit LNRMC.com to sign up.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/maintaining-a-healthy-gut#key-tip

https://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/surprising-symptoms-of-an-unhealthy-gut/

https://www.wellandgood.com/signs-healthy-gut/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/whats-the-connection-between-the-gut-and-brain-health

https://www.forbes.com/health/body/how-to-improve-gut-health/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5357536/

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/exercise-improves-your-gut-bacteria#Microbiome-sensitivity

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/05/keeping-your-gut-check

https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/stress-management/

https://www.healthline.com/health/gut-health#signs-of-an-unhealthy-gut