How To Improve Your Gut Health

If you thought your gut was only useful when making a tough decision, then think again – as it also plays a huge role in your health. The gut helps digest food, absorb nutrients and sustain overall health and wellbeing.

"A healthy gut is crucial for a healthy immune system," says qualified health practitioner and PT Jason Briggs from ShoeHero. "Between 70 – 80 per cent of immune responses are found within the gut."

If it isn’t working properly, you may feel fatigued, foggy or bloated; suffer from low immune function, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies or even weight loss struggles. An imbalanced gut may also be the cause of that acne you’ve suffered from for years.

If you’re looking to improve any of these conditions – or just want to make sure your gut is in tip-top condition – implement a few of these into your health routine and see how your wellbeing improves.

Eat clean

"If you are already obtaining enough sleep but experiencing low energy levels, commit to eating nutritious diet," says Jason. If you want to improve your gut health then opt for a wholefoods diet – that is, one that is rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Keep processed, sugary foods for treats, special occasions or in low quantities. It’s all about balance and everything in moderation.

Cut back on gluten

The gut struggles to digest the protein found in gluten. If you find that you feel uncomfortable, bloated or a little funny after eating bread, pasta or other foods containing gluten, it might be best to cut back. Although these foods are delicious, the less your gut has to work, the better!

Take a probiotic

The gut is full of good bacteria, which helps to digest food, produce nutrients and fight off diseases. However, if your gut health is not what it should be, your tummy could do with a high quality probiotic. It will replenish the good bacteria in the gut while fighting off the bad. We recommend Swisse Ultiboost Inner Balance 35 Billion.

Wake up with apple cider vinegar

Start your morning by drinking a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon and a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar stimulates the hydrochloric acid in your stomach for optimal digestion. It can also reduce cravings, lower cholesterol levels and help you lose weight. For more information on the superfood – read this article. We guarantee you’ll want to run out and grab yourself a bottle.

Chew your food

This may seem pretty obvious, but chewing your food properly really does make the world of difference for your digestion. Chew each mouthful around 15 times, until it turns into mush in your mouth. This eases the pressure on your digestive system, and means you are far less likely to suffer from an upset tummy.

Limit your water intake…

But only around meal times! Try to lay off the water – or any other liquids, for the matter – around 20 minutes before and after meal times. Water dilutes the gastric juices that help break down food, making digestion all the more harder.

This article has been updated since its original publication.

Do you suffer from an unhealthy gut? Which tips will you implement into your health routine?

93 Member Comments

Love bug 3 Jul 2020 10:34 PM

I've been struggling with my gut for so long ive got IBS and its so frustrating

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Love bug 3 Jul 2020 10:32 PM

The fact about water was incredibly interesting. wouldve never thought

skincare junkie 11 Mar 2020 8:25 AM

I bought a nutri bullet recently and since then I've been blending my 5 or 10 serve of fruit and veg everyday. My gut has never been bappier!

Diamah 11 Mar 2020 12:27 AM

Great article!

Gilded 10 Mar 2020 5:49 PM

I like Kefir, its really helped me a lot. I love drinking piping hot tea after my meals esp dinner time though, so that 20 min before and after wait is hard for me to follow.

Chrystalage 10 Mar 2020 3:51 PM

I don’t take probiotics anymore. Through doing research, I discovered that probiotic powder loses too much of its potency. Capsules are better at preserving the bacteria but there is still loss. Instead of the supplements, I make fermented veggies and prefer the natural bacteria

talk-a-lot 10 Mar 2020 3:27 PM

I have recently brought some Apple Cider Vinegar to try because it is so beneficial for the body, inside and out. I decided to get some after reading an article on BH.

S-P 10 Mar 2020 12:00 PM

I agree with everything in this article. My husband has always abstained from drinking during his meals. I always thought it was weird, but it seems he knows what he's doing.

Gilliey 10 Mar 2020 10:36 AM

As a child we were never allowed to drink with our meals so I brought up my children the same. Natural home cooked and grown is what we try to practice. Good article.

Paul481 10 Mar 2020 8:56 AM

Great Article, if we treat our gut with the respect it needs then the rest of our body and mind will follow

Okatko 10 Mar 2020 8:24 AM

I need to start eating more healthily. Too many sugary sweet things and not enough naturally sweet - like fruit.

Beautybabe140194 10 Mar 2020 1:09 AM

Great tips. I take a probiotic daily to help my gut

Amanda738 9 Mar 2020 9:33 PM

Such an informative read! Great tips!

Frenchy1 9 Mar 2020 7:20 PM

Need to work on chewing my food properly.

Tee631 9 Mar 2020 6:37 PM

Wow apple cider vinegar

LadyLola 9 Mar 2020 6:21 PM

Some good information here and there are times that my gut health has been awful when I'm not being kind to myself.

IndieAna 9 Mar 2020 5:16 PM

I have cut back on gluten, but didn't know about drinking water at mealtimes diluting stomach acids

Miss19 9 Mar 2020 4:38 PM

I ditched gluten and all animal products several years ago and it helped so much

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Rose_P 9 Mar 2020 3:44 PM

I don’t drink during meals, and I eat cleanly most of the time. I don’t eat meat, but I do eat seafood. I am lactose intolerant, so I have to be very careful when I go out. And I also have Ulcerative Colitis, but thankfully it’s not causing me too many issues at the moment. It was a few weeks ago, I was too scared to leave the house. But it’s settled now. Speaking of seafood, mmmmm yum I wouldn’t mind some prawns for dinner tonight.

Hayley644 9 Mar 2020 2:56 PM

Relevant article for me as I have an inflammatory bowel disease, I never realised how your gut influences the rest of your health until I got sick and was diagnosed.

Yohanna 9 Mar 2020 2:02 PM

My gut is super happy! No wonder my system is flooded with serotonin and great energy 24/7. Just ditch all animal products and load up on heaps of fruit and other plant based food . Fiber (aka fruits and plant matter that is edible like nuts, seeds, savoury fruits, leafy greens...etc) is only food for your good microbiome. It is useless swallowing man made capsules of bacteria if there is no food for them in the gut, but people keep adding food for nasty ones. Guess what happens?

Sparkle 77 9 Mar 2020 1:24 PM

So important and yet I don't always remember to do the right thing so thanks for the reminder :)

Miramarmari 2 Feb 2020 8:49 AM

Totally agree with eating clean and having gluten free too

S-P 11 Aug 2019 1:28 PM

My husband doesn't drink during or after a meal. Of everyone I know, he's the only one that does this. I've tried but definitely need water with my meal.

Sootyhere 19 May 2019 11:23 AM

Thanks for the information. I didn't know drinking water with meals diluted the gastric juices.

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