A healthy gut benefits your entire body, not just the digestive system. From your skin's appearance to energy levels, the gut plays a significant role in how your body functions. Now that you know the importance of gut health, how can you improve it? Take a look at these ways to boost the health of your gut.

Eat a Variety of Foods

If you want a diverse microbiome in your gut, eat a wide range of foods. Gut bacteria work to break down foods in your digestive system. When you ingest a variety of foods, more microorganisms populate the gut, leading to a diverse microbiome. Not only does eating different foods improve gut health, but it can help develop your palate.

Take Probiotics

The benefits are endless for probiotics. In many cases, you can get probiotics naturally from your diet, but it is a good idea to take supplements or eat food rich in them. Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that are native to the gut microbiome. They are the good type of bacteria that keeps your gut healthy. If you have poor gut health, a probiotic supplement can help rebuild the microbiome and maintain proper health in the future.

Consume Prebiotics

You might have heard about probiotics, but what about prebiotics? For those who want a healthier gut, think about consuming prebiotic foods. Prebiotics provide food for good microorganisms to consume, which can boost their population in the stomach. In turn, that bad bacteria will have no place to develop. Garlic, berries, onions, legumes, seeds, and nuts contain prebiotics, such as bifidobacteria.

Enjoy Fermented Foods

Fermented food can be beneficial for gut health. You don't have to go far to find these foods. Kefir is a fermented yogurt, and it is readily available in most stores. Even breads have fermented ingredients. For example, sourdough uses a fermented "mother" as a base. Eating sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt can boost your gut microbiome by reducing harmful bacteria and enhancing digestive functions. Along with that, these foods are known to promote lactobacilli, a type of beneficial bacteria.

Add Fiber-Rich Foods To Your Diet

When the gut works to break down foods, it can help to promote better health. High-fiber foods need the help of gut bacteria to digest in your system. Those short-chain fatty acids from the fibers are vital for immune function. Fiber is also beneficial in other ways. It can act like a bulking agent to move indigestible food through your digestive tract. Plus, since fiber takes a long time to digest, it gives bacteria in the lower gut a chance to absorb nutrients. Often, low-fiber diets lead to constipation because the indigestible food does not have anywhere to move.

If you feel tired or bloated, it may be tied to your gut health. Keeping a healthy gut is vital to your overall health. These tips can help make your gut more productive and maintain a healthy balance in your digestive system. When you need to find probiotics or other beneficial foods, turn to the Source Market Miami for your health needs.