You’ve put your digestion through hell, let’s get things running smoothly again
Never ones for discouraging a good hearty feast, we know that if you’re anything like us, the last 3 months have been a blur of chocolate, alcohol, and eating out. It was fun, so there’s no point regretting it! But the festive season is well and truly over, so it’s time to undo some of the damage that might have been done.
Even just a few days of eating junk can throw your most important asset out of whack - your gut. Your gut is often referred to as the second brain, because it’s where your nutrients are absorbed, and its overall health can have huge effects on things as broad as even your mental health. If you’ve ever gone a little overboard on the junk food before, you might have noticed a few uncomfortable feelings in your stomach, or more noticeably some changes in your bowel movements. That’s because bad food can cause bad digestion.
So here are some of our suggestions on how to bring some balance back:
#1. Drink more water
Yes, we know. You’ve heard how important your 8 glasses a day are. Well, actually that’s a myth. There is no scientific magic number of glasses of water you should be drinking, but it’s also no secret that water is good for you. Obviously we need it to live. Water is like the oil that keeps the engine running smoothly, and that goes for the gut. If you’re feeling like your engine is particularly backed up, your first move should be to reach for a glass of water.
#2. Eat your kraut
We’re probably the poster-people for explaining why sauerkraut should be a must-have in your diet by now. But just in case you hadn’t heard, sauerkraut is full of all that good gut bacteria that you need to keep things moving. Without the good bacteria in your gut, it’s just too easy for the bad bacteria to take over.
#3. Get moving
Of course exercise is amazing for our health, it gets endorphins flowing, it burns calories, and gets the blood moving - but it’s also great for your gut! Have you ever gone for a run and then needed to go the bathroom afterwards? Well that might be considered one of the more immediate ways exercise can affect your gut, but studies have also shown that regular exercise can help with your gut microbiomes. If you were looking for a sign to put on your running shoes, this is it.
#4. Eat less sugar
There’s absolutely no way we’re going to tell you to go on a sugar-free diet unless of course you want to, however if getting your gut back on track is your goal it might be a good idea to at least lower your intake for a while. Sugar has been a social pariah for a long time now, but when it comes to your gut, the main evil it inflicts is inflammation. An inflamed gut doesn’t sound all that fun, does it?
#5. Cut down on the caffeine
We hate to be that guy, but your coffee habit is doing you no good in the gut department. It might be a routine that gives you an instant hit of serotonin, but there’s a chance it’s undoing all that good once it hits your gut. This is a controversial one, and studies have shown that coffee can actually be good or bad depending on your individual gut health and microbiomes. When it comes to this tip, the best course of action is to go a few days without coffee, then drink one and see if you are running to the toilet straight after. Then you should have your answer.
So, which one do you think will be the hardest for you?