September: Your gut + Your health + A granola recipe

Let's get straight into it!

What you eat directly influences your gut microbiome, this plays a big role in how we feel everyday. A healthy gut filled with 'good' bacteria, helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases, inflammation, keeps your brain healthy and can assist with weight management.

What you eat directly influences your gut microbiome (filled with bacteria) which directly impacts your health and wellbeing day to day. A healthy gut filled with 'good' bacteria, helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases, can reduce inflammation, keep your brain healthy and help with weight management.

A plant based diet creates the best opportunity for your gut microbiome to thrive; this doesn’t restrict dairy or meat choices rather recommends making informed choices and always including fruit and vegetables and a few fermented foods.

So here are some ways to improve your gut microbiome everyday:

Eat more:

1. Probiotics found in fermented foods like, sauerkraut or kimchi, miso or yogurt.

2. Prebiotics feed your probiotics in the gut like, fruit and vegetables i.e. raspberries, onions or asparagus.

3. Polyphenols is a plant chemical found in dark chocolate, extra-virgin olive oil, tea and apples.

4. Eat a diverse diet, with different foods to establish a diverse microbiome.

Eat less:

1. Artificial sweeteners, they are not digested by the body although does pass the gut microflora and can change the composition. These can be found in diet sodas and zero-calorie beverages. Try kombucha instead.

2. Red meat, processed foods and alcohol. All pretty self-explanatory, moderation of these products is important and noticing how your body interacts and responds to these foods.

3. Also, feeling stressed can have a negative impact on your gut, so look after your mental health and take time to unwind and aim to sleep and exercise too.

Something we are loving - Hetty Lui McKinnon's new recipe book.

As a nutritionist having a cook celebrate vegetables comforts us knowing that community can try new recipes filled with antioxidants, colour, fibre and energy.  Covering all bases Hetty has included simple 15 minute creations as well as delicious recipes that take a little longer. Her recipes will always leave you feeling full and energised. 

Here is a Granola recipe to pair with your yogurt and fruit to help diversify your eating patterns and improve your gut!

Thanks for scrolling, that's blog number four - talk next month community.

Olivia