How to Improve your Gut Health with Natural Solutions

Prebiotics, Probiotics, Stress Management

LJ rounded the bend of the running trail first and right into an unexpected surprise: a flock of turkeys! The spooked birds ran in all directions, some toward an unsuspecting Ted, lagging LJ. The turkeys surrounded him. Shocked, Ted struggled to outrun them. Finally, after a few more yards of sprinting and dodging feathers, he got away from the flock.

The morning run had started uneventfully. The air was still crisp despite the early sun, but a hint of warmth signaled the coming of spring. Ted asked LJ if they could run together since he was working on getting in shape. They met on the neighborhood trail and began running at a comfortable pace; however, after a few miles, LJ noticed Ted had slowed and was several yards behind when he entered the bend. Now the turkeys disrupted the run. Ted stopped running in obvious pain.

“That was some encounter.” LJ ran back to him. “Are you okay?”

Ted slowly straightened, taking deep breaths. “I used to be in much better shape than I am now. I’ve been having digestive issues for six months and getting severe headaches.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said LJ. “How about we walk home instead of running? Digestive issues can really affect you; Annie and I’ve learned everything begins and ends with a healthy gut. No pun intended, but it’s the bottom line for maintaining physical and mental health.”

“Sounds like you all may have had a similar experience. Got any tips?”

LJ stopped walking. “We both had digestive issues until we changed our diet and eliminated the stress in our lives. It took a while to put all the pieces in place, but we had no more problems once we did. We learned:

Your digestive system consists of hollow organs, mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. Once food reaches your intestines, your gastrointestinal tract’s trillions of microbiota take over. They manage digestion, modulate the immune system, and are the first line of defense against inflammation.

This ecosystem is crucial to your health because it produces essential vitamins and hormones.