Your internal microbiome is responsible for a lot of different aspects of your health and wellness. The key is to get proactive and incorporate superfoods for gut health into your daily routine. This may sound intimidating, but there are plenty of delicious options available.
What Are Superfoods for Gut Health?
Superfood is a term for a broad category of food, drink, and ingredients that each have multiple wellness benefits to offer. Consider them to be extra-potent, nutritious consumables. Superfoods can include:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Flavonoids
- Fiber
- Antioxidants
The majority of superfoods derive from plants. Certain forms of dairy and other animal products are also on the list. There are many different health targets for superfoods, such as your immune system and cholesterol levels, and you can find superfoods for gut health specifically.
Why Is Gut Health Important?
Your digestive system is of central importance to the health of your entire body. It does much more than just break down your food into its nutritional components — it’s connected to your immune system, nervous system, and mood.
There are multiple colonies of bacteria that can live in different areas of your digestive system. They each function differently and require the proper nourishment to flourish. Keep your gut bacteria happy, and you’ll be happy.
What Are the Best Superfoods for Gut Health?
There are a ton of foods that claim to be good for gut health out there, but some are better than others. You want to look for potency and a broad spectrum of nutritional elements, from probiotics to flavonoids.
Kombucha
Kombucha is one of the heavy hitters in the world of gut health. It’s fermented from black tea with the use of a SCOBY. The process of fermentation activates cultures of bacteria, enzymes, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. Not to mention, it tastes great, comes in lots of flavors, and is carbonated.
You can now find kombucha in a powdered form, which makes it easy to add to just about anything. You can put it in water, smoothies, or even your favorite meal. When kombucha is powdered, that means it no longer contains any alcohol. It stores well and is easy to carry with you.
Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that provides nourishing fuel for your gut bacteria. It is overflowing with vital nutrients, such as antioxidants, potassium, iron, and protein. It is known as the food with the most amount of beta-carotene packed inside, as well as one of the best superfoods for gut health.
This algae superfood is best consumed as a powder. It has a neutral taste that blends well in just about anything, like smoothies or juice. You can also find it in capsule form for convenient ingestion. You’ve got your greens covered with a dose of Spirulina.
Chicory Root
Chicory root is often ground up and used as a coffee substitute. It has a rich, bitter flavor and is chock full of antioxidants. It is also a source of inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber, which nourishes your gut bacteria for a healthy microbiome.
In terms of minerals, chicory root contains folates, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous. You won’t find a more dynamic root anywhere. Not to mention, it’s caffeine free, so you can drink as much of it as you like without feeling jittery. Of course, you can easily combine it with coffee if you’d like a little boost.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is considered a prebiotic food. It feeds your microbiome and the byproducts created during the breakdown process can even help reduce inflammation. Not only is it one of the best superfoods for gut health, but it can be great for your heart, as well.
Healthy dark chocolate should be organic and at least 70% cacao or cocoa. The suggested intake is one or two ounces per day. Who knew eating chocolate every day could be good for your gut health? This is good news for everyone with a sweet tooth.
Oats
You may not expect it, but oats are a potent prebiotic. This means that they ferment once they make contact with your stomach juices, creating additional good bacteria for your gut. They are also a good source of fiber and are excellent at keeping you full for a long time. This is because the fiber dissolves into a gel that travels slowly through your digestive tract.
In addition to being one of the best superfoods for gut health, oats are good for lowering cholesterol. They ease digestion and make your bowel movements a breeze. They have an impressive shelf life and are flexible as an ingredient in a lot of different recipes. Oats are also very easy on the stomach so they are good to eat when you aren’t feeling well.
Yogurt and Kefir
Yogurt is another excellent probiotic with a ton of live cultures inside. Add healthy bacteria to your microbiome with each bite. It’s best to avoid yogurt with added sugar, so go for plain and Greek style if you can. Kefir is similar to yogurt, but slightly more liquid and tangy, and a little effervescent. It originated in Russia and is now enjoyed worldwide.
These fermented dairy products also contain calcium, which is good for your bone health. They serve as an excellent source of protein for a well-balanced diet. They truly do it all and taste good to boot. You can drink, eat, or use yogurt as a topping for various meals.
Sourcing Quality Superfoods for Gut Health
What you put in your body is important. You need to be sure you are sourcing the best possible foods and ingredients. You can do this by choosing trustworthy brands to fill your kitchen. That way you can rest easy knowing every product you consume is beneficial for your health without scrutinizing the label every time.
Here at Superfoods Company we ethically source high-quality, natural ingredients from local farmers. We don’t use any additives and care about your health. We make superfoods for gut health such as instant kombucha and a daily greens mix that are easy to incorporate into your diet. Reach out to learn more about our refreshing products.