Tag

Gut Health

All articles tagged with #gut health

Regulate Your Nervous System First to Boost Gut Health
health6 days ago

Regulate Your Nervous System First to Boost Gut Health

A nutritionist argues that gut health starts with regulating the nervous system rather than relying on probiotics, explaining that chronic stress and a dysregulated nervous system disrupt digestion via the gut–brain axis and the vagus nerve. She suggests switching to a parasympathetic “rest and digest” state and using techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, eating in a relaxed environment, getting 7–9 hours of sleep, and regular exercise to improve digestion and reduce inflammation. Probiotics and supplements can help, but may not suffice if stress remains high; persistent issues should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Ancient Indian staples that boost gut health
health7 days ago

Ancient Indian staples that boost gut health

Nutritionists highlight seven traditional Indian foods—homemade curd, kanji, idli/dosa batter, moong dal khichdi, bananas, lentils and beans, and desi ghee—that support gut health through probiotics, prebiotic fiber, and gentle digestion, while stressing that overall habits such as hydration, sleep, stress management, and avoiding ultra-processed foods also play a key role.

Eight Anti-Inflammatory Fruits to Support Gut Health
wellness9 days ago

Eight Anti-Inflammatory Fruits to Support Gut Health

Vogue’s wellness piece highlights eight fruits—berries, apples, citrus, pomegranates, grapes, cherries, kiwis, and prunes—as sources of anti-inflammatory compounds and fiber that may boost gut health through antioxidants and polyphenols; it also notes pairing fruit with protein to prevent blood sugar spikes and cautions that some people with sensitive digestion may need tailored intake.

Gelatin Desserts May Boost Gut, Joints and Skin Health
health12 days ago

Gelatin Desserts May Boost Gut, Joints and Skin Health

Gelatin-based, low-calorie desserts are highlighted as a way to support gut health, joint strength and aging due to the amino acids in collagen. Gelatin can help skin and cartilage, aid gut lining and calcium absorption via lysine, and may reduce inflammation with glycine. The dessert is low in calories (about 10 per tablespoon) and provides roughly 6 g protein, 2 g sugar and no fat; NIH guidance suggests 5–15 g daily if taken as a supplement for up to six months, though human evidence is still limited and much of the data comes from animal studies.

Fruit-Forward Prebiotics: 9 Picks to Boost Your Gut Health
health17 days ago

Fruit-Forward Prebiotics: 9 Picks to Boost Your Gut Health

Prebiotics feed gut bacteria and support digestion, immune function, and mood; while many rely on supplements, this TODAY piece lists fruits that provide prebiotic fiber or prebiotic-like polyphenols. Highlights include unripe bananas (resistant starch), apples and pears (pectin), blueberries and strawberries (fiber + polyphenols), avocado (pectin + healthy fats), dates, nectarines (fructooligosaccharides), and grapefruit (pectin). The article also mentions traditional prebiotic vegetables like dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, leeks, and onions. To maximize benefits, choose slightly green bananas and eat a variety of these fruits as part of a fiber-rich diet.

Zero-sugar diet may disrupt metabolism, study suggests
life-style18 days ago

Zero-sugar diet may disrupt metabolism, study suggests

A small rodent study found that a strict zero-sugar diet did not cause weight loss but impaired metabolic health by altering gut microbes and weakening the gut barrier, leading to poorer glucose clearance. The researchers caution that the findings in mice with a very small sample size may not translate to humans, and emphasize that extreme sugar elimination could backfire. The piece recommends a balanced, varied diet (including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fermented foods) to support gut health and metabolic function, rather than an all-or-nothing approach to sugar.

Four Gut-Healthy Grains to Boost Fiber Intake, Say Dietitians
nutrition23 days ago

Four Gut-Healthy Grains to Boost Fiber Intake, Say Dietitians

Dietitians emphasize fiber’s pivotal role in digestion, heart health, and longevity, noting that most Americans fall short of daily fiber. The best way to raise intake is through fiber-rich foods, especially whole grains, which provide soluble and insoluble fiber that supports gut bacteria, improves digestion, lowers LDL cholesterol, and aids satiety. Top high-fiber grains include bulgur (about 8 g per cooked cup), barley (roughly 6 g per serving), oats (about 4 g per 1/2 cup dry), and buckwheat (about 4.5 g per serving); other options include spelt, millet, teff, amaranth, quinoa, and popcorn. The Dietary Guidelines advise 2–4 servings of whole grains daily and 25–38 g of fiber per day.

Your Co-habitants May Tune Your Gut Microbiome More Than Your Diet
health25 days ago

Your Co-habitants May Tune Your Gut Microbiome More Than Your Diet

A study shows people who live together share about 26% of their oral microbes, with romantic partners sharing 44%, implying that household cohabitation shapes both oral and gut microbiomes beyond diet. The oral–gut microbiome axis means microbes can transfer via saliva and shared environments, potentially influencing health and the effectiveness of treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbial exchange can extend to broader communities albeit more weakly.

Sip to a Stronger Gut: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Digestion
wellness27 days ago

Sip to a Stronger Gut: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Digestion

The article explains how probiotic and prebiotic drinks can support gut health and digestion, highlighting the importance of high CFU counts (at least 10 billion) and low sugar, while noting that individual microbiomes vary and results depend on ingredients; it also covers traditional probiotic foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi) and prebiotic fibers (onions, garlic, bananas, whole grains), and mentions supplements as an option when everyday probiotic foods aren’t feasible.

Gut-Boosting Menu: 8 Probiotic Foods Backed by a Nutritionist
health1 month ago

Gut-Boosting Menu: 8 Probiotic Foods Backed by a Nutritionist

A nutritionist highlights eight probiotic and prebiotic foods (yogurt, kefir, sugar-free kombucha, miso/natto/kimchi/tempeh, sauerkraut, fermented pickles, sourdough, and certain cheeses) as simple ways to diversify the gut microbiota, stressing that daily probiotic and prebiotic intake within a Mediterranean-style diet supports immune health and overall well-being.

Late-night snacking under stress linked to gut health changes
health1 month ago

Late-night snacking under stress linked to gut health changes

An abstract from Digestive Disease Week ties eating more than 25% of daily calories after 9 p.m. with abnormal bowel habits in stressed individuals (up to 2.5× higher risk), though the work is observational and not yet peer‑reviewed. Data came from 11,149 NHANES participants (2005–2010) and 4,100 from the Microsetta Initiative; causality isn’t proven and nighttime foods may matter. Experts suggest limiting nighttime eating, opting for lighter options, and keeping regular meal timing to support gut health, with more research needed to confirm the link.

Stress and late-night meals may disrupt gut health, new study finds
health1 month ago

Stress and late-night meals may disrupt gut health, new study finds

A new, not-yet-peer-reviewed abstract presented at Digestive Disease Week suggests that stressed individuals who eat more than 25% of their daily calories after 9 p.m. are up to 2.5 times more likely to experience abnormal bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea). The study analyzed data from the US NHANES (2005–2010) and the Microsetta Initiative (2013–2017) and is observational, so it cannot establish causation. Experts note reduced gut microbiome diversity with the late-night eating/stress combo and highlight several unknowns, including dietary factors. Practical takeaways include avoiding meals 3–4 hours before bed and opting for lighter, easier-to-digest foods if eating at night.