What Food Items Can Help Improve Your Gut Health?

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of polyphenols, natural plant components that act as antioxidants, protecting cells from the damage that causes illness. Polyphenols are also advantageous to gut health by feeding beneficial microorganisms in the colon. Other high-polyphenol foods include berries, green tea, almonds, and spices.

Fremont, CA: When you think of naturally excellent foods for your stomach, you most likely think of yogurt and fiber-rich whole-grain bread. But, happily, many additional meals improve your gut health in various ways, most of which are plant-based.  

Consuming a more comprehensive range of plant foods has been linked to a greater diversity of gut bacteria. A more diversified gut microbiota may help to reduce your risk of diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity.

Here are five meals that you might not realize are gut-friendly.

Sauerkraut

It's frequently heaped on top of hot dogs. However, you should also explore using this fermented food in sandwiches, wraps, and salads. It is naturally maintained by bacteria and functions as a probiotic in the GI tract, allowing good bacteria to thrive. Look for simple labeling, preferably with only cabbage, salt, and occasionally additional seasonings.

Onions

Onions are a culinary staple for seasoning, but they also serve as a prebiotic. That means they provide food for probiotics, allowing them to dominate in the gut and drown out the harmful bacteria that can cause illness. Onions are beneficial to the intestines, whether they are raw or cooked.

Dates

A small study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that those who ate dates daily had more bowel movements per week and lower ammonia levels in their stool. Dates may be blended into smoothies for their natural sweetness, spooned with nut butter for a snack, or eaten plain.

Sourdough Bread

Baking sourdough bread at home was popular a few years ago, and there's good reason to revive it. The indigenous bacteria in sourdough starter create acids, which begin to break down part of the carbohydrates. This may make it simpler to digest, particularly for persons with irritable bowel syndrome who are sensitive to traditional yeasted bread.

Chocolate

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of polyphenols, natural plant components that act as antioxidants, protecting cells from the damage that causes illness. Polyphenols are also advantageous to gut health by feeding beneficial microorganisms in the colon. Other high-polyphenol foods include berries, green tea, almonds, and spices.