10 Tips for Optimising Gut Health

We don’t typically discuss topics like Death, Sex or Money, nor do we discuss other important topics like digestion and gut health.

When I say we, I mean we in our private conversations and we as the medical industries that serve us.

Considering that everything starts in the gut, or as I like to call it; the boiler room. I can’t imagine a more important conversation to have.

The health of our gut is paramount above all else. When we don’t feel good, nothing matters, and the gut has the power to strongly dictate how we feel and the overall state of our well-being.

Some of us are more diligent than others when it comes to looking after our digestive health, and yet we can always improve and optimise this important bodily function.

This blog is designed for everyone as a great starting point for those who don’t think about gut health much at all, and also for those who have tried everything under the sun and still find themselves struggling. 

What Are We Looking For Exactly?

Starting at the beginning, we need to be clear about what to expect when doing a number 2  (and yes, it’s important to look). 

We need to learn what to expect and then asses our current gut health performance and this Instagram post does exactly that by being very, um….quite visually descriptive.

Asha’s Top 10 Tips

To be honest, this list could be much longer but it’s a great starting point. Some of these techniques are free and available to all, other recommendations can be more expensive but worth considering in the long run.

Let’s start with something that should be a seasonal ritual for us all.

Water fasting

Is something that humans have done throughout history. Either because food was not available or yearly as part of a religious practice. There is a strong case to be made we should practice 1- 3 day water fasts every season (every 3 months). This is a free and available exercise that may benefit your gut in more ways than you might expect.

Chew, chew, chew!

Have you ever heard that digestion begins in the mouth? Saliva pre-digests our food making it easier on our gut. Chewing our food properly can reduce how much we eat in one sitting and also makes it easier for our food to be broken down, digested and finally expelled. 

The time of day

When we eat can also significantly affect our digestion and overall gut function. I encourage you to experiment with not eating at night because here’s what happens if we eat after the sun has gone down.

Hydration is key

We cannot be fully hydrated if our minerals are depleted. Which is why good-quality salt is a non-negotiable. Regular consumption of quality Celtic salt by adding it to drinking water is delicious and an easy way to keep electrolytes and minerals topped up.

Diatomaceous earth

Might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s actually a natural detoxifier. Diatomaceous earth is a powder containing about 80%-90% silica and made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. It’s so good for our overall well-being that I will let you read up on it and see for yourself. Start with small doses in your morning drink and increase the dosage over time.

Fibre up!

We cannot have a conversation about gut health and not mention fibre. Flax seeds are a godsend for our gut and here’s a recipe for a powerful remedy you can try at home.  This recipe includes many powerhouse ingredients that are very likely to give your gut the support it needs. Again, start with small portions and increase slowly with time as your digestion improves.

Naked food

Another affordable trick is to only buy and cook from raw ingredients or as I like to call it, naked food. Anything previously processed or packaged in any way likely has preservatives which are hard on the human digestive system. I cannot encourage you enough to remove any processed foods and meats that contain E numbers. These preservatives can wreak havoc on our gut and are often not worth the hassle of ‘convenience. Besides, it can be cheaper and lots more fun to make hummus from scratch rather than buy it in the shops.

Somatic releases

Another free and accessible tip I would like to share with you is a really easy self-massage technique. These exercises are great if you are digestively backed up and need a release. Seriously, give this a try!

Infrared for the win!

Have you heard about red light therapy? The data coming out on the potential benefit of light therapy for our overall well-being is frankly astounding and yes, that includes a long list of benefits for our gut health. There is too much data for me to post here but if you can buy yourself a red light device, please do so and thank me later! 

Serotonin uptake

Last but definitely not least. Lion’s Mane is excellent for optimal digestion. Lion’s Mane’s benefits are still being discovered and proven but we do know that we produce the majority of our serotonin in the gut. This brings us back to my initial point above; the better we digest, the better we feel.

Many more suggestions could be made regarding optimal gut health practices.

If you want me to share what those are, drop me a comment here below and I will start working on a part 2 version of this blog post.

Of course, I want to hear about what keeps your gut healthy and what techniques have worked best for you.

Share your stories and anecdotes with us via social channels like our Facebook group or Discord channel.

As always, 

Flow strong.

Asha ✨