Your gut is not just where you digest your food. It\u2019s also where you have trillions of tiny organisms that help you stay healthy, happy and smart. Here are some things you should know about your gut and how to make it stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gut health is all about the balance of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. These microorganisms, also called the gut microbiome, help you break down food, get nutrients, fight inflammation and boost immunity. Gut health also affects your mental health, mood and brain function. In fact, your gut microbiome can produce vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other substances that affect your metabolism, appetite, weight, mood, memory and cognition. It also interacts with your immune system and modulates your response to infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases and cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many things can mess up your gut health, like what you eat, how stressed you are, how much you sleep, what drugs you take and what toxins you\u2019re exposed to. To improve your gut health, try these tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eat foods that have prebiotics,<\/strong> which help the microbes already in your microbiome to grow by giving them the foods they like. Many fruits and vegetables containing complex carbohydrates, such as fiber, also contain prebiotics. You may already have these foods in your pantry or fridge, including apples, bananas, berries, carrots, flax seed, garlic, oats and sweet potatoes. Fiber feeds the good microorganisms in your gut and, as a special bonus, helps you with bathroom exercise number two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eat more fermented foods,<\/strong> like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha. Fermented foods have probiotics, which can improve your gut microbiome and immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid or limit processed foods, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and antibiotics.<\/strong> These foods can mess up your gut microbiome and cause inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manage your stress levels.<\/strong> Stress can affect your gut-brain connection and change your gut microbiome. Try to relax with things like meditation, yoga, breathing exercises or hobbies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get enough sleep.<\/strong> Not sleeping enough can hurt your gut wall function and increase inflammation. Aim for at least seven hours of good sleep per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise regularly.<\/strong> Moving your body can make your gut move better and gut microbiome more diverse. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By following these tips, you can improve your gut health and enjoy the benefits for your whole body and mind. Remember to talk to your doctor before making any big changes to your diet or lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kmotion, Inc., 412 Beavercreek Road, Suite 611, Oregon City, OR 97045; www.kmotion.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a92023 Kmotion, Inc. This newsletter is a publication of Kmotion, Inc., whose role is solely that of publisher. The articles and opinions in this newsletter are those of Kmotion. The articles and opinions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Nothing in this publication shall be construed as providing investment counseling or directing employees to participate in any investment program in any way. Please consult your financial advisor or other appropriate professional for further assistance with regard to your individual situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Make a Healthy Belly Part of Your Wellness Plan Your gut is not just where you digest your food. It\u2019s also where you have trillions of tiny organisms that help you stay healthy, happy and smart. Here are some things you should know about your…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":18043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[405],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wealth-management-and-planning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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