Phone: 07 4085 0054
How can your heal your guts and feel better? Research show the importance of feeding our gut bacteria the right food so they can help protect the colon wall.

How To Heal Your Gut & Feel Better

It can be challenging to know what to eat- especially if you are trying to lose weight. Fad diets come and go. Is it best to eat high fat / low carb - or the opposite?

Sometimes clients come to see me having cut out certain groups of food in the hope that they will feel better. Often they then feel too tired to exercise or even function well in daily life as they have cut out essential nutrients.

Research is now showing that restrictive diets can also affect the type and diversity of microorganisms in our gut- (the microbiota.). Following a paleo or keto diet long term can increase harmful bacteria and reduce the number of bacterial species in our large intestine.

This tends to cause inflammation which damages the integrity of the gut wall ( leaky gut) and so increases the risk of auto immune disease, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's among other diseases.

So what is best for us to eat? It is advisable to minimise processed foods (which often contain additives that actually detract from the nutritional value and can also damage the gut) and consume a mainly plant based diet- what is often called the Mediterranean diet.

This food plan includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables plus whole grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds. So it is very high in fibre which helps repair the gut.

Olive oil is the main fat source and low to moderate amounts of whole grain bread dairy, eggs, fish and poultry are eaten.

Red meat is only rarely included in meals and dessert is usually fruit rather than sweets. Of course vegan and vegetarian options of this diet are also possible – and it can be adapted for people with known food sensitivities and allergies. (Though long term, the healed gut can usually tolerate foods that previously may have caused symptoms.)

In practice this means shopping around the edges of supermarkets or going to local markets for fresh, locally produced, preferably organic food.

If you have any questions about how to help with digestive issues or how to lose weight, please get in touch for a quick health chat or to book nutritional counselling.

Please note, nutritional advice given is for holistic wellness. If you have complex medical issues, please see a clinical dietitian and a medical practitioner for specialist support as well.

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Sarah Isaacs, Naturopath

Ph (07) 4085 0054

info@naturalhealthfocus.com.au

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Special Interests

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DISCLAIMER:

If you have any medical conditions, are taking prescription drugs or are feeling unwell, please consult a health care professional before taking any of the advice on this website. This advice does not replace medical treatment.
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