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5 Tips To Maintain A Healthy Gut This Monsoon

5 Tips To Maintain A Healthy Gut This MonsoonThe fresh, dewy weather, the chirping birds and the amazing smell of wet mud! The rainy season has its own charm but along with it, it also brings a host of diseases and infections. One such being a compromised Gut! The symptoms of a compromised gut may include an upset stomach, acidity, bloating, flatulence, gas, etc. making it crucial to maintain a healthy gut during this season.

How Can You Maintain A Healthy Gut This Monsoon? 

Here are 5 simple yet effective ways in which you can maintain a healthy gut: 

  1. Add Ginger/Garlic: These are the most commonly used herbs in our households and they provide us with an array of benefits. Raw Ginger/Garlic acts as a Prebiotic (food) for friendly gut bacteria, thereby improving gut health. Gingerol and Allicin present in them respectively, are found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties which keep infections at bay. Adding fresh herbs to your food/soups or drinking a warm cup of Ginger tea will be a great way to improve gut health.
  2. Eat Cooked Foods Over Raw Foods: Cooking has a bacterio-cidal (Bacteria killing) effect on the food prepared. Humidity provides a conducive environment for bacterial and fungal growth. Raw foods can be a host for bacterial growth. Hence, cooking foods rather than consuming them raw is a better alternative. Eg: Having a veg soup over a raw veg salad will be a better alternative.
  3. Eat Fermented Foods: Probiotics are the beneficial gut bacteria which work as the first line of defense against any infection. They also synthesize Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) and Vitamin K in the body, thereby giving energy. Adding Idlis, dosas, homemade curds, Khimchi, Kefir, etc. to your diet will improve the number of probiotics and thereby improve gut health.
  4. Consume Fruits/Vegetables Immediately After Cutting: If vegetables or fruits are cut and left exposed to air, it can attract flies or insects which can infest the food. If this food is consumed, it can cause infections and affect gut health. Hence, eat the fruit/vegetable immediately after cutting/chopping it, or cover it if you wish to consume it later.  
  5. Eat Light: Foods such as rice, dal, legumes, soups, vegetables, fruits, Khichdi, etc. are lighter on the stomach and are easily digested and absorbed as opposed to the tempting fried Pakoras, vada pav, etc. which can cause bloatedness, acidity and/or flatulence.

Do keep these tips in mind and maintain a healthy gut for a healthy you! If these tips helped, let us know in the comments below.

You can find more gut health tips here or you can speak to an expert directly by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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Prebiotics and Probiotics: What’s the Difference?

Prebiotics and Probiotics - what's the difference

You may have heard of prebiotics and probiotics, but do you know the difference between the two? While they sound similar, prebiotics and probiotics have different roles in promoting gut health. In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between prebiotics and probiotics, and how they work together to support your digestive system.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber that the human body can’t digest. Instead, they serve as food for the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut, helping to promote the growth and activity of these microbes. When prebiotics are fermented by the bacteria in your gut, they produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are important for maintaining gut health and supporting immune function.

Some examples of common prebiotics include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS). These are found in a variety of foods such as bananas, onions, garlic, asparagus, artichokes, whole grains, and legumes. Prebiotics are often used in conjunction with probiotics to promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial to your gut health. These microbes can be found in certain foods or supplements, and are also naturally present in your gut. Probiotics help to promote the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in your gut, while also inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria.

Some examples of common probiotics include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Lactis, and Saccharomyces Boulardii. Probiotics are often added to foods such as yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables, or can be taken in supplement form.

How Do Prebiotics and Probiotics Work Together?

Prebiotics and Probiotics work together to promote a healthy gut microbiome. Prebiotics provide the food that Probiotics need to thrive and multiply, while Probiotics help to balance the ratio of beneficial and harmful bacteria in your gut. By consuming both Prebiotics and Probiotics, you can support the growth of beneficial bacteria, improve digestion, and enhance immune function.

It’s worth noting that not all Probiotics and Prebiotics are created equal. Different strains of Probiotics and types of Prebiotics can have different effects on the gut microbiome, so it’s important to choose high-quality supplements such as these to improve your gut constitution.

If this article helped you, let us know your thoughts in the comments below! You can find more articles on nutrition and improving gut health here. 

You can also get this information and a lot more directly from a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here. 

#BeTheForce 

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Why Maintaining Gut Health is Important

Maintaining Gut health
Ever heard of the phrase, “You are what you eat?” What if we were to tell you that you are not what you eat but what you digest?” It’s no surprise that almost all diseases begin in the gut. The maintenance of ‘Microflora’ (balance of good bacteria) in the gut is crucial for good health, immunity and even the prevention, healing and recovery from serious diseases like cancer.

Your intestines (gut) contain pounds of good bacteria whose job is to help with the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat. The good bacteria determines the strength of your immunity, regulates weight loss, recovery, healing, colon health, toxicity in the body and several other functions.

As per our India Fit Report, we found that ‘gut health’ is an area of key concern among users. Issues such as acidity, indigestion, constipation, and bloating have seen a steep incline since last year.

Some of the key finds include:

  • 29.6% of India has acidity issues
  • 30.10% women suffered from acidity & indigestion compared to 29.40% men
  • People from Bhubaneshwar (40.2%) and Indore (35%) suffer the most from acidity and indigestion issues
  • More doctors are actively prescribing lifestyle improvements (nutrition, exercise and sleep)

This raises many concerns about India’s health and nutrition. For a healthy lifestyle and to achieve health goals, you need to take care of your gut health first!

Here are a few tips that will help you maintain a strong and healthy gut

  • Include good fiber in your everyday routine which should include raw and cooked vegetables with 2-3 fruits
  • Add a natural probiotic like curd in your diet
  • Walk and get moving, reduce the sitting time through the day
  • Maintain good water intake to flush out toxins and even aid passage of stools to reduce constipation
  • Learn to chew your food thoroughly and not eat on the run

We hope this article gives you a better insight into gut health and how to maintain it. Do check our IndiaFit Report for more insights.

For more articles on gut health, check out Healthy Reads. For tips on how to improve your gut health, speak to a GOQii Coach now by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

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