Go for gut health! Build a balanced meal with these superfoods
Health is of paramount importance, more so in a post-pandemic situation. While a lot has been said about boosting immunity, gut health needs to be one of the primary areas of focus.
Maintaining a healthy gut is crucial for overall health and wellbeing. A healthy gut contains a balanced and diverse community of microorganisms that aid in digestion, support the immune system and produce essential nutrients. While a variety of factors can influence gut health, including stress, medication and lifestyle habits, diet plays a significant role in promoting a healthy gut. Eating a nutritionallybalanced meal that supports gut health can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the risk of digestive issues, inflammation and chronic diseases. Tanisha Bawa, a certified nutrition coach, shares some superfoods to be consumed that can help increase good bacteria and boost gut health.
RAINBOW OF PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DIETARY FIBRE
This will not only make your plate look great, but is also important for the intake of diverse fibre sources. Consuming adequate fibre supports cardiovascular and digestive health. It is also linked to glycaemic control for diabetics and maintaining a healthy weight. Hence, complex carbs such as millet, amaranth, quinoa and lentils; fruits such as berries, apples and citrus fruits; vegetables such as zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, broccoli, etc. must be a part of your daily meals.
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that can be found naturally in fermented foods, among others, or in the form of supplements. Probiotic consumption has been linked to disease prevention, immunity support and battling gastrointestinal infections. Probiotics can be found in kefir, pickles, tempeh, greek yoghurt and drinks like kombucha.
PREBIOTICS
If you include probiotics in your diet, prebiotics are equally essential to help gut health improve. Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that feed on probiotics in your gut. They assist in further improving the immune system, nervous system, cardiovascular health and bone health. Foods rich in prebiotics are garlic, onion, ripe bananas, watermelon, apples, cherries, cashews, chia seeds and pistachios.
GOOD FATS
Good fats improve your mood, as 80% of the hormone serotonin is produced in the gut. When you consume sufficient good fats, you will observe a positive change in your mood. Even your skin and hair health is tied down to a good gut, and therefore, you will see a difference in those aspects as well.