One important piece to know is that your gut bacteria is extremely vulnerable to lifestyle and environmental influences such as consuming a less than optimal healthy and nutrient diet with too much sugar, processed foods, animal proteins and not enough fiber. Antibiotics, alcohol, chlorinated and fluoridated water, antibacterial soaps, agricultural chemicals, pesticides and even pollution can upset the harmonious balance of friendly to not so friendly gut bacteria.
Gas and bloating, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, headaches, Sugar cravings, including cravings for refined carbohydrate foods can be signs that your bad bacteria is getting the upper hand over your good bacteria in your digestive system.
Depression and low compromised immune system can also be be and indication that your flora is low in the good bacteria population department. With 80 percent of your immune system located in your digestive tract it is extremely important to make your gut condition a major focal point to maintaining optimal health and well being.
Believe it or not your gut is quite literally your second brain. Your intestines originate from the same type of tissue as your brain. As a fetus develops, one part of the brain develops into the central nervous system, while the other develops into the enteric (bowel or gut) nervous system. These two systems are connected by the vagus nerve. This nerve runs from your brain stem down to your abdomen having allowing the gut and the brain to work in tandem and each influencing the other. Your intestinal health can have such a profound influence on your mental health, and vice versa.
The best way to aid in enhancing good gut flora is to regularly consume traditionally fermented foods such as cabbage, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso paste, Kim Chee, Kombucha and Kevita. You can usually find these items in your natural foods store or you can even try your hand fermenting at home.
One of the wonderful things about fermented vegetables is that they are alkaline which helps to restore pH balance in your body. They also trigger cleansing and can create and increase in intestinal gas initially as the vegetables stir up waste and toxins in the intestinal tract.
That said, I realize that a lot of people do not enjoy the taste of fermented foods. In this case you can still reap the benefits by taking a probiotic supplement. Look for one high in lactobacillus and bifidobacterium with a count of these bacteria in the billions.
Here is an easy Happy Gut Cabbage Kraut recipe from Living Light:
Yield :3 cups (12 servings)
1 cabbage, very finely shredded (10 cups)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1. Shred the cabbage into a large bowl. Add the salt and gently massage it into the cabbage until the liquid starts to release.
Let the cabbage rest for 10 minutes and massage it again. Repeat as often as necessary until the cabbage is very juicy.
2. Pack the mixture firmly into a large jar, crock, or bowl. Press the cabbage down until the liquid rises above it about an eighth of an inch.
If you are using a large jar for your kraut, put a weight on top of the cabbage, such as a small jar filled with water. If you are using a crock or a bowl,
put a plate on top of the cabbage and then a weight. Cover everything with a clean dish towel.
3. Allow the kraut to ferment in a cool, dark place for at least 3 days and up to 14 days, depending upon the desired degree of sourness.
4. Once the kraut is ready, store in sealed glass jars in the refrigerator for up to several months.
You can also add small amounts of other roots or cruciferous vegetables, such as carrot, beet or broccoli.
Add seasonings and herbs, such as lemon juice, garlic, ginger, fresh dill weed or caraway.
Happy Fermenting! Happy Gut!