“All diseases begin in the gut”. Although nowadays, the phrase was uttered more than two thousand years ago by the father of modern medicine, the Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates.
Today we know that a healthy gut is essential to maintain the body’s balance. When you are sick, the body contributes to the development of a number of conditions such as diabetes, obesity, depression, low immunity, arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The good news is that changing some habits and eating certain foods and supplements can restore intestinal flora and prevent many of the diseases mentioned above.
But… What is the intestinal flora?
Also known as the intestinal microbiota, the flora is simply a set of microorganisms living in the digestive tract and they act in various metabolic processes, such as digestion.
The human body contains not less than 100 trillion microorganisms in the intestines only, most of which are bacteria. This means we have about ten times more bacteria than cells throughout the body.
As it is essential for an energy metabolism directly and indirectly involved in a number of other functions in the body, many researchers say the intestinal flora is almost an organ of our body.
Imbalance of intestinal flora.
If the intestinal microbiota is unbalanced, one of the first symptoms is the weakening of the immune system. Other signs that the intestinal flora isn’t as healthy as we may think are:
- Frequent digestive problems (gas, diarrhea, constipation);
- Deficiency in vitamin D, K, B12 and B7;
- Hormonal imbalance;
- Feeling of fatigue
- Depression, anxiety, mental confusion; health worsening skin acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea;
- autoimmune diseases (rheumatism, inflammatory bowel disease);
- Hemorrhoids and allergy;
- Changes in appetite, frequent desire to eat healthy foods and little difficulty controlling weight.
Food for intestinal flora restauration
There are basically two types of foods that can help restore the balance of intestinal flora: – Probiotics – Supplements Probiotics: One of the best ways to restore intestinal flora is by regularly consuming fermented foods and probiotics. This is because these foods are great sources of bacteria that produce lactic acid, a byproduct that…
What should we eat to restore intestinal flora?
Food plays a very important role in recovering intestinal flora. While many overlook it, the nutrients and components of many foods are determinants in intestinal and digestive health.
In this particular case, it is convenient to consume probiotic or fermented foods, since they contain live cultures of bacteria that nourish the intestinal flora. Also, prebiotic foods that feed the existing good bacteria should be taken.
Among the list of recommended foods there are:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Ginger root
- Berries and fruits that provide plenty of fiber
- Vegetables
- Lean proteins
- Black tea
- Raw almonds
- Linseed oil or flour and fish oils
In addition, it is advisable to consume fermented foods. It is important to include the following products in the diet:
- Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Pickled gherkins and radishes
- Pickled beets
- Miso
- Yeast
- Tempeh and tofu
Additionally to consuming these foods, you should include between 25 and 35 grams of fiber in your daily diet.