4 Ways to Start Healing your Gut TODAY

I hear it all the time… “I feel like something is off with my stomach, but I have no idea where to start!”

It can be really confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming when you feel like crap but are paralyzed by all the conflicting information about how to start feeling better.

It’s best to keep it simple at first and start small.

Here are a few simple things you can start doing today that will have you on your way.

1. Adopt a whole foods diet.

   • Eat foods that your body recognizes as natural.

   • Eliminate added sugars, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, gums, and refined carbohydrates.

   • Try and limit any packaged foods for at least 3 weeks

2. Eat Mindfully

   • Sit down to eat with no distractions (no phone, tv, etc.)

   • Take a few deep breaths- this will let your body know its ok to relax and its time to digest

   • Chew each bite 20 times. This will stimulate digestive enzymes, lighten the load on your digestive system, and help you be able to sense fullness cues.

3. Identify Food Intolerances

   • If you have a feeling a certain food may be causing your symptoms cut it out for 3 weeks and see how you feel.

   • Common triggers: Dairy, gluten, corn, soy, eggs, peanuts & FODMAPs

4. Eliminate Artificial Sweeteners

   • Fake sweeteners & sugar alcohols can facilitate negative changes to the community of bacteria and cause bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhea etc.

   • Common ones to look out for: Erythritol, Maltitol, Xylitol, Aspartame, Sorbitol.

Gut health is complex, and highly individualized but implementing these four simple things into your lifestyle will have you taking strides in the right direction!