Your body is only as healthy as the food it’s able to absorb.
No matter how many kale salads, protein shakes, and green juices you consume – if your body is unable to digest and absorb it then you’re doing more harm than good.
A healthy gut is able to breakdown, digest, and absorb nutrients in order to maintain homeostasis in the body and prevent sickness and disease.
When your gut health is compromised, which can be from stress, nutrient deficiencies, bacterial imbalances, lack of sleep, sickness, etc. – you impair your body’s ability to use the foods that you’re eating, leaving gaps in your nutrients and creating many potential imbalances.
Understanding that the health of your gut is the most critical step in being able to absorb and digest, allows you to look at food and how your body is using it a little bit differently.
So if you’re eating “healthy”, but are struggling with excess weight, bloating, moodiness, gas, food sensitivities, inflammation, or any other troubles – chances are you’ve got a few unhealthy habits that are ruining your gut.
TOO MUCH PROTEIN
While low-carbohydrates are all the rage right now, and ketogenic diets can be beneficial for therapeutic dietary treatments – that doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
Protein takes a lot of work for your body to digest, which is all good and well for a healthy gut eating an appropriate amount of protein. But depending on the state of your gut, you may not be producing enough stomach acid or the proper enzymes necessary to digest it.
Before jumping on the ketogenic bandwagon, make sure you know it’s right and safe for you and don’t exceed 10-35% of your daily calories in protein consumption.
DRINKING YOUR CALORIES
Green juices, pop, alcohol, smoothies, and latte’s can all be tough on the gut because of poor food combining or specific ingredients that are used – plus they’re usually really high in sugar.
You’re best to stay away from pop and latte’s, keep alcohol to a minimum, and reduce green juices and smoothies to once or twice a week and keep them as high in greens as possible, while using low-glycemic fruits to sweeten.
But for the most part, choose to stick with water to keep yourself hydrated and elimination running smoothly – keeping your gut happy.
PROTEIN SHAKES AND MEAL REPLACEMENTS
I know I’m opening up a can of worms with this one, but anybody who knows me is aware that I have a huge problem with drinking your meals.
Meal replacements and protein powders are processed, chemically altered, and and unnatural source of protein for the body.
Also keep in mind that smelling and chewing your food is the beginning of the digestive process and crucial to your body functioning optimally. If you blend up a shake and drink it, you skip the first few steps of digestion, throwing off the body’s natural process.
So while they can be great to use therapeutically or when necessary for sports nutrition, they should not be a daily or weekly part of your routine.
THE WRONG SUPPLEMENTS
While hitting up the nearest Costco to pick up the next big “supplement” sounds like a cheap and easy way to get healthy – it’s also the cheapest and easiest way to ruin your gut.
Why? Because those “cheap” supplements contain a lot of fillers, added ingredients, and preservatives that you don’t need. They have low efficacy, and the quality of the ingredients are poor as they’re synthetic, making them tough for your body to absorb.
When it comes to supplements – you get what you pay for, go for the good quality ones recommended for your personal needs.
Plus, supplementing a healthy diet to fill in any gaps is important and needs to be done right through a professional healthcare practitioner who can give you the appropriate supplements, at the right dosing, geared at your specific needs.
Remember, too much of anything (even healthy things) can be harmful. Using supplements as recommended by a professional is the safest and healthiest way to have a healthy gut.
IGNORING LIFESTYLE HABITS
This one is surprisingly common! While most people are willing to start exercising long before they’re willing to adjust their food – getting people to focus on reducing stress, improving their sleep quality, and including a little self-care is a tough one too.
Just remember that a lot of gut damage can be done by your lifestyle habits as well – for instance, stress can affect your hormones, reduce your stomach acid, and impact your ability to absorb nutrients, while a lack of sleep changes your hormones and affects cognition (among other things of course).
Focusing on your lifestyle habits as well as food can make a big difference for a healthy gut, which affects your entire body.
While you may or may not be doing some or all of these things, be aware that these are some unhealthy habits that do impact your gut. By changing some of these bad habits, you’ll improve your health and avoid a lot of digestive problems, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases.