Gut health

Health Tip for Today ~ Which is Better: Probiotic Foods or Probiotic Supplements?

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Probiotic Foods Get the Edge

Some people prefer probiotic supplements over foods, but  Gail Cresci, PhD, RD,  notes that probiotic foods are a better choice. In particular, fermented foods — like yogurt, kefir (a yogurt-like beverage), kombucha (fermented black tea), sauerkraut (refrigerated, not shelf-stable), kimchi (made from fermented cabbage) and tempeh and miso (made from fermented soybeans) — provide a nourishing environment in which healthful bacteria thrive and release important byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids.  “They have beneficial effects on your immunity, inflammation and cholesterol,” Dr. Cresci adds. “Go for probiotic foods first.” 

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Health Tip of the Day ~ Want to Supercharge Your Gut Health?

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Are you looking for a vegetable that can do wonders for your gut health?

Spinach is a powerhouse vegetable packed with nutrition and numerous health benefits. For example, research shows spinach has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight-management benefits (no wonder Popeye loved it so much). Besides being an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, spinach also offers several benefits for gut health.

“Spinach is always my first choice as the best vegetable for gut health,” says Sarah Robbins, M.D., a gastroenterologist and the founder of Well Sunday, a leading platform for digestive health solutions. “Not only is it readily available in grocery stores, reasonably priced, versatile and convenient, this leafy green is densely packed with fiber and other nutrients that support gut and overall health.”

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Health Tip of the Day ~ Meditation May Promote Gut Health

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A new study published in the journal General Psychiatry reports that regular deep meditation may help regulate the gut microbiome and lower the risks of physical and mental illness. The relatively small study says the gut microbes found in a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks were substantially different than those of their secular neighbors and were linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety.

The study authors said previous research shows the gut microbiome – bacteria, fungi, and viruses that break down food in the human digestive tract – can affect mood and behavior through the gut–brain axis (the two-way biochemical signaling connected through the vagus nerve, which oversees multiple crucial bodily functions).

The gut-brain axis includes the body’s immune response, hormonal signaling, and stress response.The researchers pointed out meditation is increasingly being used to help treat mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, traumatic stress, and eating disorders as well as chronic pain.

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