I am sure you have read article after article with regard to the latest hot topic “Gut Health.” What actually is gut health though? Why does it matter? And did you know that it actually assist with weight loss?
First things first. Gut health refers to the health of your gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract. The health of your GI tract is absolutely crucial for your overall health and well being as it affects areas such as the immune system, energy levels and believe it or not can actually regulate our mood.
However, here’s something you may not have associated with gut health, according to a recent study in the International Journal of Obesity, it can also promote weight loss.
A new study revealed that we should take the connection between good gut bacteria and weight loss seriously. The study showed that individuals who are overweight or obese tend to have low levels of healthy bacteria, while individuals with a normal body max index (BMI) tend to have high levels of healthy bacteria. The research team believe that diet is the reason for these results.
People who are obese or overweight will often eat a diet high sugar and it is that very sugar that bad bacteria will feed on.
So, what does the above all mean with regard to weight loss?
The rule of thumb is that if you are trying to lose weight, it would be advisable to incorporate foods that contain good bacteria. Eating both probiotic and prebiotic food can aid in healthy weight loss by improving overall metabolic functions. Giving your gut a plentiful supply of good bacteria can also help reduce inflammation, enhance brain function, and improve digestion.
Fermented foods and drinks, such as yogurt, kombucha, kefir, miso, sauerkraut and kimchi are great sources of probiotics. Foods that contain prebiotics are also good additions to your diet, such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, jicama, onions and garlic.