Remember the last time something happened and you had that feeling in your gut that convinced you to do one of 2 things…Fight or Flight. Those are the moments we often remember—but did you know your gut sends you several different notifications that you may or may not notice. Theses notifications are created based on what you eat. According to Dr. Frank Lipman, 70% of our body’s serotonin is made in our gut. Based on what you eat, the things happening in your gut will affect your mood, skin and weight. Duh, right?

This special sauce serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, sending several messages in to our brain daily. I want to ask you this question, what are you putting in your gut?

Our gut is like the central processor for everything in our body. Think about it, that feeling you get when you’re about to fall or when you eat bad foods. Your tummy tells you first by either jumping into your throat or bubbling because of gas. If you’re like me, you’d probably want to know how to avoid an unhealthy gut.

MORNING WARM UP

First things first, start your day with a warm detox. Save the orange juice and the coffee for later; warm up a cup of water add about ¾ cup of lemon juice and sip away. You’ll feel this easy concoction warm up your tummy and I literally mean warm it up. Consuming warm lemon water is best done upon rising as it stimulates the gastric juices, kick-starting your metabolism. A faster metabolism, less waste just sitting in your tummy.

STAY HYDRATED

Sip on filtered water. Continuous fluid helps to remove excess waste and keeps our bowels healthy. Drinking lots a water keeps you from being dehydrated which helps with clear skin and a less flaky scalp.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES

I know you’re an adult, but some of us still don’t like eating veggies. Vegetables provide our bodies with the nutrients they need on a daily basis and help to maintain general health. Make your vegetable dishes fun, by playing with color and flavor.

DON’T EAT THEN SLEEP

With a healthy gut, gone are the days of the “ITIS.” The trick to this is to stay away from or decrease the amount of heavy foods that make you sleep. Foods like bread, potatoes, fried foods, or fast foods; these meals make you feel fatigued and full. If you like these types of foods, make sure you aren’t eating them too close to bed time. Give yourself at least an hour to digest your last meal before heading to sleep.

If you think you have poor gut health, chances are you do. Common side effects include loose or unformed stools, or constipation. Maybe you feel gassy, foggy headed or have a poor mood; these all point back to you gut. If you’re experiencing any of these effects, consult your gut and trust its message.

By: Jillynn Reese

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