Did you Know? 6 Ways To Care For Your Gut

In human anatomy, the intestine is also known as the bowel or gut. It is that part of the gastrointestinal tract that extends from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus. The gut is a part of our digestive system. As such, it works hand in hand with other organs to ensure that the nutrients in the foods and drinks we consume are broken down to bits that the body can easily absorb and use for growth, energy and cell repairs. Now, we cannot see the gut because it is an internal body organ but we can take care of it and we can monitor it to know if it’s functioning well. One way to do this is to look at the shape, colour, consistency, frequency and ease of our poop. If our periodic checks reveal that all is well with our gut, we need to do our part to ensure that things remain that way. Below are six ways that we can take care of our gut.

2. Chew your Food Properly:

Eating food quickly once in a long while is not a problem. But if you’ve made a habit of wolfing down food, then, my dear, I’ll advise you to unlearn this habit. I have two reasons for this. The first is that one tends to consume more when one eats food quickly. This may eventually cause weight management issues for the consumer. Secondly, when food is consumed quickly, it may not be chewed properly; in some cases, it may not even be chewed at all. Now, the process of digestion begins in the mouth. If the mouth fails to perform its function, more work is created for the rest of the digestive organs.

3. Stay Hydrated:

How many glasses of water have you taken today? Now, are you aware that we are all encouraged to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day? Water aids digestion by helping to break down the nutrients in the food we’ve consumed. Besides, those who drink water frequently experience less digestive issues like bloating and constipation.

4. Watch Your Alcohol Consumption:

Most of us can’t go a day without alcohol. Some of us cannot relax or have fun without it either. But research indicates that a strong link exists between alcohol and poor gut health. Thus, you may want to stick with the current health recommendation of one day, one alcoholic beverage for women and one day, two alcoholic beverages for men. This will go a long way in promoting good gut health.

6. Cut Down your Sugar Consumption:

The average Nigerian does not read labels. They either buy brands that do more PR or those that offer tastier foods. As a result, they unknowingly consume a large quantity of added sugar daily. The bad news is that these refined sugar break down the lining in the gut. They promote the growth of bad bacteria too. The resulting imbalance in gut flora can cause inflammation, constipation and other negative digestive health issues.

In conclusion, if you want to take better care of your gut, you’d have to be intentional about the things you consume.

Sources

Eating Well

Health line

Love Lace Health System

Wikipedia