These Foods Can Truly Help To Heal Your Gut

Many people struggle with gut damage from chronic digestive issues, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disease. Learning how to heal the gut and improve the digestive environment can go a long way to improving the body’s overall health and ability to fight disease.

There are some really easy dietary steps that can be taken toward healing the gut, and it all starts with removing foods that cause inflammation in the body. Things like grains, dairy, sugar, and processed foods are high on that list. Following a healthy natural-food diet already limits exposure to these common sensitivities, but there are a few specific foods that, when eaten on a regular basis, will often do wonders for promoting proper gut health, reducing inflammation, and improving digestion…

Pineapple

Pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme called bromelain, which helps the body break down and digest protein more easily. It also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Turmeric

Turmeric is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, and has many well documented health benefits. Take it in capsule form, or just add it to food to promote reducing inflammation that tears up the gut.

Lemon

Lemon has been shown to help detoxify the body and also aids in digestion by stimulating bile production, which helps removes toxic offenders. Drink it in tea or warm water to start the day.

Animal Protein

Organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, or wild-caught meats are great sources of dietary amino acids, such as arginine, glutamate, and glutamine, which improve immune function in the digestive trace. They also promote the production of stomach acid, which is necessary for healthy digestion.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are good sources of healthy bacteria called probiotics. Probiotics are known to improve gut health by improving intestinal motility and supporting the immune system. Great sources of fermentation are found in kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, and especially apple cider vinegar.

Aromatic Herbs

Because they possess antibacterial properties, aromatic herbs like rosemary, ginger, oregano, and cloves, are great for aiding digestive health.

Coconut

Coconuts have been shown to have a lot of antifungal and antibacterial properties, which help improve gut health by fighting potential pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Coconut oil is a great way to easily add coconut into the diet. Add it to smoothies, cook with it, or just eat it straight off the spoon.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics feed and increase the good bacteria in the body that helps with digestion. Some great prebiotic foods include artichokes, zucchini, pumpkin, winter squash, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, honey, and sweet potatoes.

A word of caution: prebiotics can sometimes worsen symptoms in people who suffer from SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), so consult a healthcare provider prior to beginning a prebiotic regimen if you suffer from this condition.

The great thing about this list of gut-healing foods is that they’re all relatively easy to find in most supermarkets – and there are lots of fun ways to prepare them to keep them interesting. So while no one food is going to be right for everyone, this list can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in working on their gut health. As always, consult with your doctor before making any health-related decisions.