New Year’s resolutions are often about bettering oneself, and if that is your goal for 2023, remember that what you eat and how you live affects your gastro health.
Every year, people in the United States set resolutions to live healthier lives. At the same time, researching ways to eat better and live healthily, remember to incorporate gut-healthy habits into your routine.
This New Year, commit to taking care of your gut–your digestive system plays a vital role in your overall health and well-being.
Gastro Florida is happy to be your partner in gastrointestinal disorder protection! If you want extra tips on improving your GI health or experiencing any potential digestive problems, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment and meet with one of our board-certified gastroenterologists.
When your gut is not healthy, it can ripple and affect other areas of your life. Our stomach and gut are home to trillions of good and bad microbes.
What are the advantages of great gut wellness?
When your gut is not healthy, it can ripple and affect other areas of your life. Our stomach and gut are home to trillions of good and bad microbes. When this microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to many issues. Poor GI health can disrupt sleep patterns, aggravate stress levels, and make you more susceptible to other health problems.
Maintaining good gut health has countless benefits. A few ways that it can positively affect your overall health include:
- Heart health
- Weight Management
- Quality of sleep
- Positive Mood Boosting
- Advantages of Brain Health
- Immune system
- Bones strength
The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in promoting wellness. Lifestyle changes to improve your gastrointestinal health will involve aiding digestion and finding ways to enhance your overall well-being simultaneously.
Tips on how you can boost my gut health
Stop and Hydrate. Water and other liquids can help break down food so that your body can absorb nutrients, remove waste and toxins, and aid digestion. Drinking the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Slow down while chowing down – your digestive system doesn’t appreciate being rushed. Generally, aim to chew each bite at least 20 times before swallowing. Not only does this give your stomach time to start digesting the nutrients you’re consuming, but it also allows your body to recognize when it’s had enough food. Another healthy choice is to not eat in front of the TV or computer. Studies show that people who are distracted while eating end up consuming more than those who focus solely on their meals.
Activity and Exercise, Keep it moving. Exercise has various benefits for your digestive system- it helps food drive through more quickly, reduces constipation and bloat, and makes you feel healthier. You’ll see results by making physical activities a part of your daily routine.
Restrict the number of (bad) fats in your food. Be mindful of the fatty foods you eat. There are four primary types of fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, and trans. The last two kinds of fat typically slow down digestion and raise “bad” cholesterol levels. To limit your intake of high-fat and processed products, try eating lean cuts of meat, low-fat or non-fat dairy products, and replacing butter with olive oil.
Incorporating probiotics may help. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that resemble those naturally present in your digestive tract. They can be used to forestall and alleviate many different conditions, but they’re beneficial for treating gastrointestinal problems. By regulating the number of healthy bacteria in your system, normalizing bowel movements, and strengthening your immune system, probiotics do a lot to keep you feeling well. Talk to your gastroenterologists about adding probiotics to your diet.
Fiber, But make sure it’s the right kind of fiber. To improve your digestive health, consume a diet high in fiber and rich in whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits. Some benefits of a high-fiber diet include normalizing bowel movements, reducing “bad” cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and helping you achieve a healthy weight. So when looking for something tasty but also nutritious next time, consider foods that are high in fiber.
Don’t Forget To Set Up Your Colon Cancer Screening
To proactively take care of your GI health, it’s essential to stay current with preventive care–especially colonoscopies. Alarmingly, Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer for both sexes. However, if detected early enough, treatment options and prognosis improve dramatically. Most medical professionals agree that patients should begin receiving colonoscopies regularly starting at age 45; If everything looks normal during your procedure, you likely won’t need another screening until ten years later. Gastro Florida has several convenient locations where you can schedule an appointment.
Gastro Health Is Important, So Don’t Forget…
If you’ve changed your diet and are now experiencing gastrointestinal issues for more than two weeks straight, you should contact a digestive doctor at Gastro Florida. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Often, our gut instinct is the right one – in this case, it’ll guide you to a specialist who can help uncover the root cause of your symptoms and offer treatments.
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