Go With Your Gut

Gut health is so incredibly important. Hippocrates once said "All disease begins in the gut." And he may have been right.

Getting to good health isn't just about a healthy digestive system. Did you know that the Gastrointestinal System can be the root cause for a variety of illnesses including brain and mental health? When we take care of our Gastrointestinal System, it can have awesome positive effects on the whole body. Taking care of your gut means boosting your immune system, and allows your body to produce the right kind of bacteria that tells your brain it's ok to feel good again.

The gut is sometimes called "the second brain". It can effect your mood, your memory and your over all health. 

So how do we take care of our gut? We nurture it with good bacteria. Here's how I take care of the gut health of my family. 

Kefir

What the heck is Kefir? It's similar to a drink-like yogurt. It's loaded with beneficial yeast and friendly probiotic bacteria. It also has valuable vitamins and minerals. Now, I'll be honest with you, I am not a big fan of Kefir on its own. My kids love it, but it's a bit tart for my taste. I prefer my Kefir in a smoothie with fresh berries and some organic Almond milk. Kefir comes in many different flavors. My favorite brand is Lifeway. You can almost always rely on Strawberry and Blueberry Kefir being in our fridge. My kids go crazy for those flavors.

Kombucha

Yes, it's another strange drink, but bare with me. ;) Kombucha is a beverage made from fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria. That may sound incredibly gross, but your gut will LOVE it! 

Here is a list of benefits from drinking kombucha.

• Probiotics – healthy bacteria
• Alkalize the body – balances internal pH
• Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
• Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
• Improve digestion – keep your system moving
• Rebuild connective tissue
• Cancer prevention
• Alleviate constipation
• Boost energy 
• Reduce blood pressure
• Relieve headaches & migraines
• Reduce kidney stones
• High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
• High in polyphenols
• Improve eyesight
• Can be applied topically to soften the skin
• Aid healthy cell regeneration
• Reduce gray hair
• Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating

You can buy Kombucha at health food stores and even some grocery stores, or you can brew your own. 

Synergy is a popular brand of Kombucha, although I prefer to brew my own. (I will share that recipe with you on another blog post)

Probiotics

Life 5 by Young Living is a probiotic powerhouse. The description (taken from the Young Living website) explains just how awesome this supplement is.

"A high-potency probiotic, Life 5™ represents the culmination of years of extensive research. Life 5 builds and restores core intestinal health by providing five clinically proven probiotic strains including two advanced super strains to enhance intestinal health, sustain energy and improve immunity. Life 5 contains 10 billion active cultures and improves colonization up to 10 times."

These are just a few small ways that we build our gut health in my household. My kids don't get sick often, and when they do, it's not for very long at all. I want to make it clear that this post is not meant to treat, diagnose or cure any disease. ;) I am not a doctor, just a health conscious mama trying to make the best choices concerning the health of my family. If you have serious health concerns, please go see a doctor. 

I hope this helps you on your journey to a healthy gut. ;)